348. It is written: "I am come into my garden, my sister, my bride; I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk" (Shir Hashirim 5:1). The verse continues: "Eat, O dear ones." "I have eaten my honeycomb" refers to that part of the prayer service that is said seated; NAMELY FROM 'WHO FORMS LIGHT AND CREATES DARKNESS...' UNTIL THE READING OF SH'MA. "with my honey" refers to the recital of the Sh'ma. HE EXPLAINS, "I have eaten my honeycomb (Heb. ya'ar)" refers to that part of the prayer service that is said seated, BECAUSE the forest (Heb. ya'ar) of Lebanon WHICH IS THE WORLD OF BRIYAH, INCLUDES, 'Who forms light and creates darkness,' including the wheels and the holy living creatures, all of which are called 'the forest of trees' and the saplings in it. "with my honey" refers to the recital of the Sh'ma, which is the sweetest of all, with much nectar and sweetness.
349. "I have drunk my wine" is that part of the prayer service that is said standing, for it is the drawing down of the upper cellared wine, WHICH IS THE ILLUMINATION OF CHOCHMAH THAT IS IN BINAH, AND IT IS THEREFORE SAID ABOUT IT "I HAVE DRUNK MY WINE." And this is in the first three OF THE EIGHTEEN blessings OF THE AMIDAH, PARALLELING CHOCHMAH, BINAH AND DA'AT. "With my milk" refers to the final three blessings OF THE AMIDAH, AND THEY PARALLEL NETZACH, HOD AND YESOD. AND THE ILLUMINATION OF CHASSADIM IS TERMED MILK. And the ones are included in each other, NAMELY THE ILLUMINATION OF CHOCHMAH AND OF CHASSADIM ARE INCLUDED IN EACH OTHER. To this point is the food of the King. And after the King has eaten, "Eat, O dear ones," NAMELY THE ANGELS, "drink deep, O living companions" below, NAMELY THE SOULS.
350. And thus there is no obligation TO OFFER PRAISES for food until after the prayer, NAMELY UNTIL AFTER THE KING HAS EATEN, AS ABOVE. And what is the reason FOR THE RECITAL OF "A PRAISE OF DAVID" (TEHILIM 145) IN THE AFTERNOON SERVICE BEFORE THE AMIDAH? IT IS BECAUSE THE AFTERNOON SERVICE CORRESPONDS TO ISAAC, WHICH IS JUDGMENT. SO before there is harsh Judgment, NAMELY BEFORE THE AMIDAH, while the King's countenance is still shining WITH CHESED (ENG. 'FAVOR'), let him say "A praise of David" in that order of foodstuffs IN THE THREE ASPECTS, for after THE PRAYER when Judgment prevails and impends over the world, it is an inappropriate time for that. Rabbi Pinchas came and kissed him.