מַה דּוֹדֵךְ מִדּוֹד הַיָּפָה בַּנָּשִׁים, אֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם אוֹמְרִים לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, מַה דּוֹדֵךְ מִדּוֹד, מָה אֱלוֹהַּ הוּא מֵאֱלוֹהוּת, מַה פַּטְרוֹן הוּא מִפַּטְרוֹנִין. יִשְׂרָאֵל אוֹמְרִים לָהֶם, דּוֹדִי צַח וְאָדוֹם. צַח לִי בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם וגו', וְאָדוֹם לְמִצְרַיִם. צַח לִי בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות יב, יב): וְעָבַרְתִּי בְאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם וגו', וְאָדוֹם לְמִצְרַיִם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות יד, כז): וַיְנַעֵר ה' אֶת מִצְרַיִם. צַח לִי בַּיָּם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות יד, כט): וּבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל הָלְכוּ בַיַּבָּשָׁה בְּתוֹךְ הַיָּם, וְאָדוֹם לִי בַּיָּם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות יד, כז): וַיְנַעֵר ה' אֶת מִצְרַיִם בְּתוֹךְ הַיָּם. צַח לִי בָּעוֹלָם הַבָּא, וְאָדוֹם לִי בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה. רַבִּי לֵוִי בַּר חַיְּתָא אֲמַר בָּהּ תְּלַת, צַח לִי בְּשַׁבָּת, וְאָדוֹם לִי כָּל יְמֵי הַשַּׁבָּת. צַח לִי בְּרֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה, וְאָדוֹם לִי כָּל יְמוֹת הַשָּׁנָה. צַח לִי בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה, וְאָדוֹם לִי בָּעוֹלָם הַבָּא. דָּגוּל מֵרְבָבָה, אָמַר רַבִּי אַבָּא בַּר כַּהֲנָא מֶלֶךְ בָּשָׂר וָדָם מֵעֲטִיפָתוֹ נִכָּר, בְּרַם הָכָא, הוּא אֵשׁ, מְשָׁרְתָיו אֵשׁ, (דברים לג, ב): וְאָתָא מֵרִבְבֹת קֹדֶשׁ, וְאוֹת הוּא בְּתוֹךְ רִבְבוֹת קֹדֶשׁ.
“How is your beloved more than another beloved, fairest of women? How is your beloved more than another beloved, that you administer an oath to us so? My beloved is clear and ruddy, more eminent than ten thousand” (Song of Songs 5:9–10). “How is your beloved more than another beloved, fairest of women?” – the nations of the world say to Israel: “How is your beloved more than another beloved?” In what way is He God more than other gods, in what way is He a protector more than other protectors? Israel says to them: “My beloved is clear and ruddy” – clear for me in the land of Egypt and red for the Egyptians. Clear for me in the land of Egypt, as it is stated: “I will pass through the land of Egypt [on that night, and I will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt.… and I will pass over you]” (Exodus 12:12–13). Red for the Egyptians, as it is stated: “The Lord hurled the Egyptians [in the midst of the sea]” (Exodus 14:27). It was clear for me at the sea, as it is stated: “The children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea” (Exodus 14:29). It was red for me at the sea – as it is stated: “The Lord hurled the Egyptians in the midst of the sea” (Exodus 14:27). It is clear for me in the World to Come, and it is red for me in this world. Rabbi Levi bar Ḥaita said three [statements] about this: It is clear for me on Shabbat, and it is red for me all the days of the week. It is clear for me on Rosh HaShana, and it is red for me the rest of the year. It is clear for me in this world, and it is red for me in the World to Come. “More eminent than ten thousand” – Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said: A king of flesh and blood is identified by his trappings; however, here, He is fire and His servants are fire: “He came [ve’ata] from the holy tens of thousands, [from His right, a fiery law to them]” (Deuteronomy 33:2) – it is a sign [ot] from the midst of the holy tens of thousands.