“My beloved is to me as a cluster of henna in the vineyards of Ein Gedi” (Song of Songs 1:14). “A cluster of henna [hakofer],” this is Isaac, who was bound on the altar like a cluster. Hakofer, who atones [mekhaper] for the sins of Israel. “In the vineyards of [bekharmei] Ein Gedi,” this is our patriarch Jacob, who entered with his face contorted [bikhrum] in fear of being humiliated before his father.
He donned garments made from a kid [gedi izim] and took the blessings that are the eye of [ein] the world. Rabbi Ḥunya [said] in the name of Rabbi Aḥa: There is nothing dearer to a woman than a cluster of henna. Where does she place it? Between her breasts.
And Rabbi Ḥunya said in the name of Reish Lakish: The congregation of Israel said before the Holy One blessed be He: ‘Master of the universe, You afflicted the Egyptians with their firstborn, you embittered their soul, but me, “lying between my breasts.”’ How so? An Egyptian would say to an Israelite: Conceal my firstborn among your sons. He would take him and conceal him, but the angel would enter and smite him.
But for me: “Lying between my breasts.”283This expresses the idea that even if God would smite an Egyptian in the Israelite home amongst the Israelites, His relationship with the Israelites was one of affection (Rabbi David Luria).