Rashi: When I went in the Midbar, the pillar of fire and cloud went in front of me, and killed snakes and scorpions and burned thorns, to make the path flat. The cloud and smoke rose, and the nations saw them and were astounded at my grandeur, and said 'who is this?!' I.e. what grandeur arises from the Midbar?

Seforno: Hashem answers, true, then I pardoned via the Tefilah of Moshe, My chosen. He stood in the breach in front of Me. It was not total [pardon]; when they repeated their [evil] intent with the Meraglim, I punished them [also] for the Egel.

Malbim (Melitzah): The verse asks, how could the Nefesh separate from the body?! How did she flee on the night of the vision from Shlomo's bed, i.e. the body? From the body on his bed, she slept eternally, until Ru'ach Elokim came on it in the Midbar, i.e. outside the body when it was separated from the city (body). It rises on a ladder from the Midbar, i.e. a spiritual world very far from man (the city).

Malbim (Mashal): When the beloved returns from the Midbar, those who see her are astounded - how did she flee at night from Shlomo's bed?! How did Shlomo's Giborim, who guard the bed, not stop her? Sixty Giborim guard it. They bear swords and are trained warriors (7-8)!

Rashi: It is tall and erect like a Tamar (date tree).

Seforno: Before the Meraglim, the intent was that they enter Eretz Yisrael immediately, without war, like the cloud of Ketores - "Kumah Hashem v'Yafutzu Oyvecha v'Yanusu" (Bamidbar 10:35). However, after the Meraglim, who rises in this way? They needed to fight! Also afterwards in their land, they needed weapons. Refer to 3:8:1:1.

Malbim (Melitzah): Smoke comes via scattering the light, fine parts from the heavy [element] of earth, via fire, which divides composites. It raises fine parts and spiritual matters above, and the element of earth becomes ash, and remains below. So Divine fire and the flame of love of Hashem burning in the heart separates the spiritual Nefesh from the earth, and it goes up like smoke that clings to the fire that consumes it.

Malbim (Mashal): She became scented from her beloved, who is full of fragrances - "l'Rei'ach Shemanecha Tovim", "Eshkol ha'Kofer" (1:3, 14). The scent thickened, until it became like smoke with substance.

Rashi: This is due to the cloud of Ketores, which went straight up from the inner Mizbe'ach.

Malbim (Melitzah): The Kitor comes from the scented parts that separate from the physical item smelled via the element of fire. This is the difference between Kitor and smoke. Kitor comes from the wet parts that are heated via the fire or from scented parts. It is as if via her burning love and Divine fire, Kitor of myrrh and frankincense came out. We mentioned (1:13) that myrrh is musk - aromatic bound blood in an Indian Chayah. This depicts the scented, choicest parts of Nefesh ha'Chiyunis. Levonah is the scented part of Levonah wood. This depicts the choicest parts of Nefesh ha'Tzomachas. I.e. when it ascends in Ruchniyus, it raises with it the Ruchniyus bound in Nefesh ha'Chiyunis and Nefesh ha'Tzomachas. The great fire performed alchemy on them and purified them and clarified the dregs, to the point that also [the dregs] returned to Kedushah.

Rashi: Rochel is one who sells all kinds of fragrances. It says Avkas, for they crush and mince them finely, like dust.

Malbim (Melitzah): This is a metaphor for all Midos of the Nefesh. All of them were purified for a good scent; it was Kodesh and spiritual. The earth and body separated from them.