35. Rabbi Yehuda said, "Eat, O dear ones, and drink; drink deep, O loving companions" (Shir Hashirim 5:1). These are all those who sob and wail, FOR THEY ARE DRAWN FROM THE LEFT COLUMN AND THE JUDGMENTS OF THE LEFT PREVAIL OVER THEM, WHEREFORE THEY CONSTANTLY SOB AND WAIL. This is because they were all sated and blessed together ON THE DAY THAT THE TABERNACLE WAS ERECTED, for they all enjoyed the King's feast, WHICH IS THE CENTRAL COLUMN. When do they all eat? When the King comes joyously. Therefore, the King is made happy and He first gladdens the Queen. Then, they all eat and rejoice.
36. Rabbi Aba said, "Eat, O dear ones, and drink; drink deep, O loving companions" These are the six EXTREMES OF ZEIR ANPIN, which we have stated. Regarding these, it states, "The king has brought me into his chambers" (Shir Hashirim 1:4). "Drink deep, O loving companions" ALLUDES TO that wine which satiates all. THIS IS THE ILLUMINATION OF CHOCHMAH, WHICH IS CALLED WINE. Rabbi Elazar says about all the lower beings, THE ANGELS AND SOULS OF BRIYAH, once these six EXTREMES OF ZEIR ANPIN are blessed, all the lower beings are blessed.
37. Rabbi Shimon said, All this is fine, but the secret meaning is "Eat, O dear ones" above and "drink deep, O loving companions" below. Rabbi Elazar said to him: Who are those above and who are below? Rabbi Shimon said to him: You asked well. ABOVE refers to a lofty place where they are in unity and joy and they never part from each other, SUPERNAL ABA AND IMA, and these are called "dear ones." Thus, it is written, "And a river went out of Eden" (Beresheet 2:10). Eden, ABA, and that river, IMA, never part. They are always in goodwill, unity and joy. "Drink deep, O loving companions" refers to those below, who are called "loving companions," MALE AND FEMALE, WHICH UNITE at certain times DURING PRAYER, ON SHABBAT AND FESTIVALS, BUT NOT CONSTANTLY AS DO SUPERNAL ABA AND IMA. This has been explained.
38. Come and see: With regard to those above, ABA AND IMA, we find written only eating but not drinking. What is the reason? It is because one who has bottles of wine needs to eat. And since there BY SUPERNAL ABA AND IMA is the preserved wine, therefore, eating is mentioned by them. Yet in regard to those below, MALE AND FEMALE, who are in need of irrigation, drinking is mentioned, for all the plantings need irrigation from the Deep River, WHICH IS BINAH. Therefore, in regard to 'the ones' IT IS WRITTEN eating and 'the others' drinking. SUPERNAL ABA AND IMA are CALLED "dear ones" while MALE AND FEMALE are CALLED "loving compnions."
39. Rabbi Elazar said to him: It appears that the loving companions are in love, so why are they below? Rabbi Shimon said, MALE AND FEMALE, WHICH ARE LOWER THAN ABA AND IMA, desire one another but are not always together. Therefore, they are called loving companions. SUPERNAL ABA AND IMA, who are constantly TOGETHER and are never concealed or parted from each other, are called dear ones. Therefore, the dear ones are in goodwill and unity constantly and the loving companions are in desire at times, BUT NOT CONSTANTLY. THE EATING AND DRINKING STATED IN THE VERSE are the completion of all, in order that the Congregation of Yisrael, WHICH IS MALCHUT, be blessed. Then, joy prevails throughout the worlds.
40. Rabbi Chizkiyah explained the verse: "EAT, O DEAR ONES..." as referring to sacrifices, for they are the King's feast to be offered before Him and the masters of Judgment enjoy them. All are sated and joy is found amongst all.
41. Rabbi Acha explained the verse: "EAT, O DEAR ONES..." as referring to when the Shechinah entered the tabernacle, where there was blessing and joy everywhere. The Shechinah entered THE TABERNACLE like a bride to the Chupa (marriage canopy), and Yisrael then achieved perfection below and were united with the Holy One, blessed be He, on earth. Thus, it is written, "And let them make Me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them" (Shemot 25:8). Then the higher beings and the lower beings were sated.