הֵ֗מָּה עֹלִים֙ בְּמַעֲלֵ֣ה הָעִ֔יר וְהֵ֙מָּה֙ מָצְא֣וּ נְעָר֔וֹת יֹצְא֖וֹת לִשְׁאֹ֣ב מָ֑יִם וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ לָהֶ֔ן הֲיֵ֥שׁ בָּזֶ֖ה הָרֹאֶֽה׃
װי זײ גײען אַרױף דעם אַרױפֿגאַנג פֿון שטאָט, אַזױ האָבן זײ אָנגעטראָפֿן מײדלעך װאָס גײען אַרױס שעפּן װאַסער, און זײ האָבן צו זײ געזאָגט: איז דאָ פֿאַראַן דער זעער?
Midrash Tehillim
Speak differently about the words of Cush. It is in opposition to Israel. When Israel sins, the Holy One, blessed be He, calls them Cushites, as it is said, "Are you not like the children of Cush to Me, O Israel?" (Amos 9:7). Speak differently about the words of Cush. Miriam spoke not against her own husband, but against the Cushite woman, as it is said, "Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman he had married." (Numbers 12:1). And was she really a Cushite? Rather, just as a Cushite is distinguished by her skin color, so was Tzipora distinguished by her deeds. Similarly, Saul was distinguished and taller than all the people. And if you want to know his beauty, see what is written, "As they were going up the ascent to the city, they met young women coming out to draw water and said to them, 'Is the seer here?' They answered them and said, 'He is; behold, he is before you. Make haste now, for he came to the city today.'" (1 Samuel 9:11-12). See how many things they said to him and why they diverted him so that he could look at his beauty. And for this reason, they kept him occupied until Samuel arrived. Therefore, he is called Cushite.
Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer
Whence again dost thou learn this? Know that it is so. Come and see from Moses, for, although he had not yet entered the city, he found maidens coming out before him, as it is said, "Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters; and they came" (Ex. 2:16). And He prospered his way, and he redeemed Israel from Egypt. Whence dost thou know this? Know that it is so. Come and see from Saul, for whilst he had not yet entered the city, he found maidens coming forth before him, as it is said, "As they went up the ascent to the city, they found young maidens going out" (1 Sam. 9:11). And He prospered his way and he acquired the sovereignty. || And whence do we know this? Know thou that it is so. Come and learn from Jacob, for whilst he had not yet entered the city, he found maidens coming forth before him, as it is said, "And, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh" (Gen. 29:6).