The conclusion of the story holds a delicate tension of distance and longing, a temporary parting that carries a promise of return. A request to flee is intimately woven into the deep, unbreakable bond between the bride and her beloved. On a literal level, the bride urges her beloved to run quickly to the fragrant mountains to escape danger from the guards, or perhaps to find a hidden place where they can speak undisturbed [מצודת דוד]. She assures him of her unwavering devotion. The choice to compare him to a young deer is deliberate; she knows that just as a fleeing deer constantly looks back and eventually returns to its starting point, her beloved will inevitably come back to her [שטיינזלץ, מלבי״ם].
The primary approach among commentators views this as the final plea of Israel to God from the depths of a long exile, begging Him to quickly pull them out of captivity [רש״י, צרור המור, צאינה וראינה]. Some interpret this flight as a request for God to distance Himself from the nations that anger Him and instead draw close to Israel, who praise His name [תורה תמימה]. Conversely, others see it as a call for God to descend from the heights, leaving behind His ministering angels to dwell directly among His people [אבן עזרא].
The comparison to a swift deer represents the speed with which God is asked to hurry the redemption [רש״י, צרור המור]. Beyond speed, the deer holds deeper layers of meaning. Like the wandering deer that always finds its way back, the scattered Israelites will eventually return to their home in Jerusalem [צאינה וראינה]. The deer also symbolizes purity, as it is completely permitted for consumption, unlike domestic animals [תורה תמימה]. Furthermore, a deer is known to sleep with one eye open and the other closed. This reflects God's constant watchfulness; while He looks with both eyes upon those who serve Him out of love, He keeps one eye open to watch over those who serve Him out of fear [תורה תמימה]. The imagery of the young deer also serves as a subtle plea for God to accept the people's prayers as favorably as the ashes of a burnt offering [תורה תמימה].
The destination of this flight, the mountains of spices, is widely identified as Mount Moriah, Mount Zion, and the site of the future Temple [רש״י, ספורנו, אבן עזרא]. This is the exact location where sweet incense was once offered [מצודת דוד] and where Adam, Noah, and Abraham brought their sacrifices. The merit of these ancient offerings rises like a sweet fragrance, urging the redemption forward [צרור המור, תורה תמימה]. Alternatively, these fragrant mountains represent the Garden of Eden [תורה תמימה], the World to Come and the highest spiritual levels [עזרא בן שלמה], or a metaphor for Divine wisdom [רלב״ג].
On a deeper level, the fragrant mountains hint at the heavens themselves. This suggests that God is waiting in heaven to judge the ruling angels of the nations before initiating the redemption [תורה תמימה]. Finally, the spices serve as a powerful metaphor for the redemption itself. Just as spices do not release their rich scent when they are soft and moist, but only after they have fully dried, the ultimate redemption of Israel will be most complete and beautiful when it arrives at its perfectly ripe and proper time [תורה תמימה].