Midrash Rabbah

3,279 texts · Page 46 of 69

The great Midrash Rabbah, a collection of aggadic midrashim on the Torah and the Five Megillot. These rabbinic commentaries explore the deeper meanings of Scripture through parable, allegory, and legend.

The Heroines Whose Courage Secured the Promised Land

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 20:16

But the Torah tells us, "God did not lead them [naḥam]" that way. (Exodus 13:17). So, what gives? There's more to this story than meets the eye. The Rabbis of the Midrash (rabbinic...

MatriarchsMosesHoly LandEgypt

Humility of Moses of Egypt

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 20:17

You'd think after all that, they'd want to get there as quickly as possible. But the Torah tells us something curious: "God led the people around, via the wilderness by the Red Sea...

JosephMosesHoly LandEgypt

A Pillar of Cloud by Day and Fire by Night

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 20:18

Jewish tradition teaches us that this feeling might be more than just a lucky coincidence. It might be the very presence of the Divine. Shemot Rabbah, a classic compilation of rabb...

JosephKing DavidMessiahHoly Land

Moses Carries Joseph's Coffin Out of Egypt

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 20:19

We all know about the plagues, the parting of the Red Sea... but there's a smaller, more personal story woven into the grand narrative of the Exodus. It's a story of loyalty, promi...

CreationAdam & EveJosephMoses

Why Do You Cry Out to Me When the Sea Is Ahead

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 21:1

The Israelites are trapped. The sea is before them, Pharaoh's army is closing in from behind. Panic is in the air. They cry out to God, as we read in (Exodus 14:10): "The children ...

CreationPatriarchsMosesKing David

Moses's Transgression of Rabbis

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 21:2

And in that moment of desperation, Moses, their leader, turned to God. But what happened next is more surprising than you might think. The Book of Exodus, or Shemot in Hebrew, is f...

JosephMosesJobHoly Land

God Knows Your Heart Before You Even Pray

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 21:3

Jewish tradition offers a powerful and comforting perspective on this very human feeling. It suggests that God isn't just listening, but already knows what's in our hearts, even be...

MosesSolomonDanielTorah

Exodus Rabbah's Transgression

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 21:4

We pour our hearts out, sometimes in joy, sometimes in desperation. But is anyone actually listening? The Book of Exodus Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Boo...

AngelsJosephMosesKing David

Wonders of Genesis of Israelites

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 21:5

Jewish tradition recognizes that very tension within us, and even within the relationship between God and Israel. Shemot Rabbah, a classic midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary...

CreationHeavenAngelsAdam & Eve

Moses Raises His Staff and Splits the Sea

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 21:6

It sounds like something out of a movie, but the Rabbis grappled with this moment, and what it truly meant. The book of Exodus (14:16) tells us, "And you, raise your staff, and ext...

CreationPatriarchsMosesKing David

Angels Attend to Samael

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 21:7

And in Shemot Rabbah, a compilation of rabbinic commentary on the Book of Exodus, they offer a powerful, if somewhat unsettling, answer. The verse in question is God's instruction ...

AngelsDemonsJosephMoses

Trapped at the Red Sea Between Pharaoh and the Waves

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 21:8

The Israelites certainly did at the Red Sea. Pharaoh’s army was bearing down on them, and the sea was, well, a sea. So what were they supposed to do? Pray? Act? Just give up? The B...

CreationHell/GehennaAdam & EvePatriarchs

Moses and the Promised Land of Egyptians

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 21:9

The scene unfolds like this: the Israelites are trapped between the pursuing Egyptian army and the seemingly insurmountable Red Sea. Moses, holding his staff, is their leader, thei...

MosesHoly LandEgypt

Were They in the Sea or on Dry Ground at the Crossing

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 21:10

The verse in (Exodus 14:22) tells us, "The children of Israel came into the midst of the sea upon dry ground; and the waters were a wall for them to their right, and to their left....

MosesKing DavidRepentanceHoly Land

Pharaoh Pursues Israel and Seals His Own Doom

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 21:11

There's a fascinating, and perhaps unsettling, perspective offered in Shemot Rabbah, a compilation of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, that uses a surprising analogy...

JosephMosesKing DavidMysticism

Moses and the Fires of Gehenna of Egypt

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 22:1

to a fascinating passage from Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, specifically chapter 22, that explores exactly that idea. The verse in ...

Hell/GehennaNoah & FloodJosephMoses

The Waters Will Return Upon Pharaoh's Chariots

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 22:2

Pharaoh's army bearing down, water as far as the eye could see. What do you do? The Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, paints a vivid pi...

AngelsJosephMosesKing David

Egypt — Job at the Dawn of Creation

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 22:3

It all comes down to what those moments taught us about ourselves and about our relationship with God. to a fascinating passage from Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpr...

CreationNoah & FloodJosephMoses

Moses — Song at the Sea

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 23:1

to a fascinating interpretation of a familiar story – the Song at the Sea, from Exodus 15. You know, the one that starts, "Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to t...

MosesKing DavidHoly LandEgypt

Rabbi Abahu's Song

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 23:2

The ancient Israelites, fresh out of Egypt, knew that feeling all too well. We find a fascinating glimpse into this in Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on th...

CreationJosephMosesKing David

Moses Sang at the Red Sea to Atone for Past Doubt

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 23:3

Shemot Rabbah, a collection of Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary)ic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, offers a fascinating insight into this very question, focusing on...

MosesSolomonProphecyRepentance

The First Song Ever Sung From Creation Until the Sea

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 23:4

It all starts with the verse, "Then Moses…sang" (Exodus 15:1). The Rabbis connect this to (Proverbs 31:26), "She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her...

CreationAngelsAdam & EvePatriarchs

Moses Sings and the Bond Between God and Israel Endures

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 23:5

We’re diving into Shemot Rabbah today, specifically section 23, which explores the verse, “Then Moses…sang” (Exodus 15:1). But this isn’t just about a song after crossing the Sea o...

CreationHeavenPatriarchsMoses

Ten Songs From the Exodus to the Age of the Messiah

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 23:6

It's more than just "Who Knows One?" around the Passover table, I promise you that. Our Sages understood that the Exodus wasn't just a one-time event; it was a template for all fut...

JosephMosesKing DavidTorah

Who Got to Sing First After the Sea Was Split

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 23:7

The story begins, as we all know, with the parting of the Red Sea. A moment of unimaginable salvation for the Israelites, fleeing slavery in Egypt. Moses leads the people, and as t...

JosephMosesKing DavidProphecy

The Children Who Recognized God at the Red Sea First

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 23:8

Our story comes from Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus. It paints a breathtaking picture of divine intervention and the unwavering faith...

JosephMosesSolomonProphecy

God Executes Justice as Egypt Drowns in the Sea

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 23:9

That feeling, that's what we're diving into today, looking at a passage from Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus. The passage opens with a...

Hell/GehennaJosephMosesKing David

I Am Dark but Beautiful Says Israel After the Sea

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 23:10

And they found a surprising way to express it. In Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, we find a fascinating reading of the verse, "Then M...

MosesKing DavidSolomonTorah

Gift of Prophecy of Isaiah

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 23:11

to a fascinating idea from Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus. It touches on something really fundamental: the way we express joy and sor...

King DavidProphecyHoly LandExile

The Song at the Sea as a Declaration of Purity

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 23:12

Shemot Rabbah, a rich collection of Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary)ic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, offers a powerful reading of the verse "Then Moses…sang [thi...

CreationHell/GehennaNoah & FloodJoseph

Why Everything in Creation Tries to Exalt Itself

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 23:13

It’s a concept that’s wrestled with beautifully in Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus. The verse "I will sing to the Lord, for He is exal...

HeavenMosesSolomonJob

God's Mare in Pharaoh's Chariots and Its Meaning

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 23:14

It all starts with the verse, "For He is exalted." The Rabbis ask, what does that truly mean? Rabbi Pappos offers a beautiful and subtle reading of the verse from (Song of Songs 1:...

AngelsMosesKing DavidSolomon

The Horse and His Rider Cast Into the Sea

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 23:15

We know the story: the Israelites trapped, the Egyptians bearing down, then – miraculously – the waters split, a path appears, and they escape to freedom. But what about the unseen...

AngelsMosesProphecyMysticism

Three Days Without Water in the Wilderness of Shur

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 24:1

The Israelites, fresh from their miraculous escape from Egypt, certainly did. The book of Exodus tells us, "Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went out to the wilderness of...

AngelsJosephMosesKing David

Moses and the Dreamer of Okay

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 24:2

Rabbi Yehuda tells us that the Israelites reasoned, "The Holy One, blessed be He, only took us out of Egypt for five things!" What were those five things? First, to give us the plu...

JosephMosesPrayerHoly Land

Moses — Yitro and the Fires of Gehenna

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 24:3

It might seem a little... unflattering at first glance. But as with so many things in our tradition, there's a depth and beauty to be found when we dig a little deeper. Shemot Rabb...

Hell/GehennaJosephMosesKing David

The Wilderness of Shur and What Its Name Reveals

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 24:4

We often gloss over place names, assuming they're just… well, places. But sometimes, they're so much more. Take, for example, the phrase "the wilderness of Shur," which pops up in ...

CreationAdam & EvePatriarchsJoseph

God Rains Down Bread From Heaven for Israel

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 25:1

We often look around us, to the earth, to other people. But Jewish tradition suggests a different source, a higher source: the heavens. Think about the manna, that miraculous bread...

CreationMosesKing DavidTorah

Rabbi Eliezer's Miracle

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 25:2

to a fascinating passage from Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, that really gets to the heart of this question. Rabbi Simon, quoting Ra...

CreationAngelsMosesKing David

God Gives Like a Sponge Opened by Hand

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 25:3

We dole things out with a closed fist, hesitant, as if we're afraid of running out. But what about the Divine? Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book o...

MosesKing DavidJobProphecy

Moses and the Heavenly Realms of Egypt

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 25:4

The story starts with a grumble. "The entire congregation of the children of Israel complained" (Exodus 16:2). They were wandering in the desert, fresh out of Egypt, and their port...

HeavenJosephMosesProphecy

Manna from Heaven of Abraham

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 25:5

Jewish tradition says a resounding "YES!" And one of the most beautiful examples of this is found in the stories surrounding the manna, that miraculous bread from heaven that susta...

CreationAngelsPatriarchsMoses

There Is None Like God Among All the Powers

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 25:6

Shemot Rabbah, a classic collection of Midrash on the book of Exodus, tackles this very question, and the answers are, frankly, . It starts with a verse from Psalms: "There is none...

CreationMosesKing DavidProphecy

Manna as Bread from Heaven Earned Through Torah

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 25:7

The passage begins by linking the manna, that miraculous bread from heaven, to a verse in Proverbs (9:5): "Come, partake of my bread, and drink of the wine I have mixed." What's th...

CreationHeavenAdam & EveNoah & Flood

Jacob and Creation of Eden

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 25:8

The ancient rabbis felt that way too, and they found profound hope in the story of the Exodus. In Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, we ...

CreationHeavenAdam & EvePatriarchs

Go Out and Gather Each Day's Portion of Manna

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 25:9

It’s not just about receiving, but about the giving, the engagement, the doing. to a fascinating passage from Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of...

MosesKing DavidSolomonTorah

The Israelites Who Hoarded Manna Against God's Word

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 25:10

Remember the manna, that miraculous bread from heaven? God instructed the Israelites to gather only what they needed for each day, except on Friday, when they were to collect a dou...

MosesRepentanceMiraclesEgypt

See That God Has Given You the Shabbat

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 25:11

The Torah tells us in Exodus (16:29), "See that the Lord has given you the Shabbat (the Sabbath); therefore, He gives you on the sixth day bread for two days. Remain each man where...

CreationMosesMiraclesHoly Land
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