The Dove That Brought Light and the Oil of the Lamp

Another explanation: "Your eyes are doves." The Holy One, blessed be He, said to her: Your likeness resembles a dove. One who wishes to buy wheat says to his fellow, show me a sample of them; so too you, your sample resembles a dove. How so? When Noah was in the ark, what is written? "And the dove came in to him at the time of evening, and behold an olive leaf [was in its mouth]" (Genesis 8:11). The Holy One, blessed be He, said to her: Just as the dove brought light into the world, so you, who are likened to a dove, bring olive oil and kindle it before Me, as it is said, "And you shall command" and so forth (Exodus 27:20).