Another matter: “The Lord spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai” – Before the Tent of Meeting stood, He spoke with him at the bush, as it is stated: “God called to him from within the bush” (Exodus 3:4). Then, “God said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying.” (Exodus 12:1) He spoke with him in Midian, as it is stated: “The Lord spoke to Moses in Midian” (Exodus 4:19). He spoke to him in Sinai, as it is stated: “The Lord spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai…saying.”
Once the Tent of Meeting stood, He said: Modesty [tzeniut] is preferable, as it is stated: “And to walk humbly [hatzne’a] with your God” (Micah 6:8) – He speaks with him in the Tent of Meeting. Likewise, David said: “All of the glory of a king’s daughter is within, her dress interwoven with gold” (Psalms 45:14). “A king’s daughter” – this is Moses, as it is stated: “I will deliver Egypt into the hand of a harsh master” (Isaiah 19:4) – these are the plagues that came upon Egypt.
“And a strong [oz] king will rule over them” (Isaiah 19:4) – this is Moses, who was the king of the Torah, which is called oz, as it is stated: “The Lord will give strength [oz] to His people” (Psalms 29:11). Therefore, “all of the glory of a king’s daughter is within.”5Thus, the verse that implies that modesty is appropriate for the king's daughter refers to Moses, to whom God spoke from within the Tent of Meeting. “[All of the glory [kevudah] of a king’s daughter is within,] her dress interwoven [mimishbetzot] with gold” – this is Aaron, as it is stated: “You shall make settings [mishbetzot] of gold” (Exodus 28:13).
From here they said: A woman who conducts herself modestly, even if she is an Israelite, is worthy to marry a priest and to produce High Priests, as it is stated: “Her dress interwoven [mimishbetzot] with gold.” The Holy One blessed be He said: This is My honor [kavod], that I will speak within. As it is stated: “When Moses went into the Tent of Meeting [to speak with Him]” (Numbers 7:89). Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: If the nations of the world would know how much the Temple benefited them, they would have surrounded it with fortifications to protect it, as it was more beneficial for them than it was for Israel, as Solomon prayed: “To the foreigner, as well, who is not of Your people Israel” (I Kings 8:41), and it is written: “You will act in accordance with everything that the foreigner calls to You” (I Kings 8:43).
But when he comes to Israel, what is written? “May You grant to each man according to all his ways, as you know his heart” (II Chronicles 6:30) – if he was worthy of it, He would give to him; if not, He would not give to him. Do not say: The Temple [alone benefits all nations]; rather, were it not for Israel, rain would not fall, the sun would not shine, as it is due to their merit that the Holy One blessed be He brings wellbeing to the world.
In the World to Come, the nations of the world will see Israel, how the Holy One blessed be He is with them, and they will come to cleave to them, as it is stated: “[So said the Lord of hosts:] In those days, ten men of all the languages of the nations will take hold; [they will take hold of the corner of the garment of a Judean man, saying: Let us go with you, as we have heard that God is with you]” (Zechariah 8:23).