4. "In the beginning" (Beresheet 1:1) Rabbi Shimon quoted the verse, "the flower buds appear on the earth" (Shir Hashirim 2:12). "The flower buds" refer to the act of creation; "appear on the earth." When? On the third day, as it is written, "And the earth brought forth" (Beresheet 1:12). Since then, they have been seen on the earth. "The time the singing bird (also: 'pruning') is come" alludes to the fourth day, when the "pruning of the tyrants" took place. THEREFORE, OF THIS DAY IT IS WRITTEN, "LET THERE BE LUMINARIES" (BERESHEET 1:14), with the letter Vav missing from the word luminaries. (The Hebrew word 'luminaries' when written without a Vav, can be read as a curse). "And the voice of the turtledove" (Shir Hashirim 2:12) refers to the fifth day, about which it is written, "Let the waters swarm" (Beresheet 1:20), so they can produce offspring. "Is heard" (Shir Hashirim 2:12) refers to the sixth day, on which it says, "Let us make man" (Beresheet 1:26), who shall put action before listening. Because it says here, "Let us make man," while there on Mount Sinai, when Hashem asked Yisrael about the Torah, they said "we will do, and obey (listen)" (Shemot 24:7). "In our land" (Shir Hashirim 2:12) refers to the day of Shabbat, which represents the Land of Life, WHICH IS THE WORLD TO COME.