Another matter, “then Moses…sang” – that is what is written: “I am black but comely [daughters of Jerusalem–like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon]” (Song of Songs 1:5). The congregation of Israel says: ‘I am black in my actions and comely in the actions of my ancestors.’ Our Rabbis said: Do not read “daughters of [benot] Jerusalem,” but rather, “builders of [bonot] Jerusalem,” – these are the Great Sanhedrins of Israel, who sit and fortify it.
Alternatively, “daughters of [benot] Jerusalem” – Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Jerusalem is destined to become a metropolis of all the lands, as it is written: “Ashdod and its environs [benoteha]” (Joshua 15:47). What is “like the tents of Kedar” (Song of Songs 1:5)? Just as the tents of the Ishmaelites are ugly on the outside and pleasant on the inside, so, too, Torah scholars, even though they appear ugly in this world, on the inside they are full of Bible, Mishna, Talmud, Halakhot, and Aggadot.
If so, just as the Ishmaelite tents move from place to place, [could it be] that Israel would also be itinerant? The verse states: “Like the curtains of Solomon [shelomo]” (Song of Songs 1:5), – like the curtains of He who spoke and the world came into being,15The verse compares Israel to the “curtains of Solomon [shelomo].” The midrash interprets the word shelomo as a reference to God, as peace is His [shalom shelo] (Shir HaShirim Rabba 1:5). which, from the moment that He stretched them like a tent, they did not move from their place.
If so, just as the tents of the Ishmaelites cannot be laundered, [could it be] that Israel is the same? The verse states: “Like the curtains of Solomon,” – just as a garment gets dirty and then becomes clean again, so, Israel, even though they sin, they repent before the Holy One blessed be He. Another matter, “I am black but comely” – In the place where I have become black, I have become comely. They sinned at Ḥorev, as it is stated: “At Ḥorev you provoked the Lord” (Deuteronomy 9:8).
And at Ḥorev they said: “Everything that the Lord said, we will do and we will obey” (Exodus 24:7). At the sea they were defiant, as it is stated: “They were defiant at the sea, the Red Sea” (Psalms 106:7). At the sea, they sang a song, as it is stated: “Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song [to the Lord].”