Kabbalah Library

282) It is written, “While the king sat at his table, my spikenard sent forth its scent.” “While the king” means the Creator, as it is written, “Thus said the Lord, King of Israel,” and as it is written, “And there was a king in Jeshurun.” “At his table” means among the wings of the Cherubim, by the ark of the covenant. “My spikenard sent forth its scent,” meaning it caused the Creator to depart from among them. “Sent forth its scent” means their bad smell.

283) While the Creator was giving the Torah to Israel, it is written, “And he was there with the Lord.” While He was writing the Torah for Israel, they left their good smell and said, “These are your gods, O Israel.” Also, giving means leaving.

284) “While the king sat at his table,” meaning while the Creator was coming down upon Mount Sinai to give the Torah to Israel, “My spikenard sent forth its scent,” gave its good smell, as it is written that they said, “We shall do and we shall hear.”