1
WHEN A MAN SHALL HAVE IN THE SKIN OF HIS FLESH A RISING OR A SCAB OR A BRIGHT SPOT, ETC. R. Judah here cited the verse: “Look not upon me because I am swarthy, because the sun hath scorched me”, etc. (S.S. 1, 6). ‘When the Moon was hidden in the exile and she saw the yearning of Israel for her, she said, “Look not on me”, meaning, “You cannot see me, because I am in darkness
2
-for one thing because the sun has withdrawn his light from me, and for another because “the sons of my mother were incensed against me” (Ibid.), these being the emissaries of the side of severity.
3
“They made me keeper of the vineyards”, that is, of other nations, whereas “my own vineyard”-Israel-I cannot keep.
4
Formerly I kept my own vineyard and through it the others were also kept; now I have to keep the others that my own may be kept among them.’