The search for a missing beloved reveals an intimate connection between the heavenly and earthly realms, transitioning from a beautiful scene of nature into a profound spiritual reality. On a simple level, a beloved figure steps down into a fragrant space to tend his flock [מצודת ציון] and gather flowers [ביאור שטיינזלץ, אבן עזרא]. He does not wander aimlessly; rather, he goes directly to his bride, viewing her as a bed of spices, to gather her love [מלבי״ם].
The primary approach among commentators is that this scene serves as a metaphor for the relationship between God and His people. The descent into the garden represents God bringing His Divine Presence down to rest within the world. The garden and its fragrant spices specifically symbolize the Temple in Jerusalem and the altar where incense was offered [רש״י, שפתי חכמים]. However, the imagery soon expands to include multiple gardens. Commentators agree that these scattered gardens represent the synagogues and study halls spread throughout the exile. Even when the Temple is gone, God continues to rest His presence in these places, finding joy in the actions of His people [רש״י, ספורנו, אלשיך, מצודת דוד, תורה תמימה].
When it comes to the act of gathering flowers, the commentators divide into two main conceptual paths. The first approach views this as an act of collecting merits. God listens closely to those who study Torah and pray, gathering their good deeds and recording them in a book of remembrance to reward them in the future [רש״י, מצודת דוד].
A second, widely held view connects the gathering of flowers to the passing of righteous individuals from the world [תורה תמימה, צרור המור, מלבי״ם, אלשיך, חומת אנך, אבן עזרא]. In this light, God comes down to the world to select the purest and most holy souls. The death of the righteous is portrayed not as a harsh event, but as a gentle act similar to smelling a fragrant flower. God draws the soul to Him in a peaceful embrace, taking it into His eternal treasures [אלשיך, מלבי״ם]. Although the loss of a righteous person is often felt as a painful blow, its underlying purpose is to awaken the rest of the nation to return to God and seek atonement [צרור המור, חומת אנך].
Alongside these main ideas, other perspectives broaden the meaning of the imagery. One approach suggests that the gardens represent the various nations of the world, and the gathered flowers are the righteous individuals among them whom God carefully selects and attaches to the people of Israel [תורה תמימה]. From a philosophical standpoint, the garden and its spices symbolize human intellect and thought. Gathering flowers represents the collection of sensory experiences that help a person achieve a higher spiritual understanding of the Creator [רלב״ג]. Finally, a mystical perspective views this entire scene as a process of drawing Divine wisdom, light, and abundance into the world, particularly during the dark days of exile, while pulling souls away from evil and returning them to their source of holiness [עזרא בן שלמה].