Legends of the Jews (Ginzberg)

2,650 texts · Page 207 of 295

Selections from Louis Ginzberg's monumental Legends of the Jews, a seven-volume compilation that weaves together aggadic material from the Talmud, Midrash, and other rabbinic literature into a continuous narrative.

Destruction of Sodom and Ruth

Ginzberg Legends of the Jews 5:117

Jewish tradition says it does. Absolutely. God sees it all, and nothing goes unrewarded. Not even a respectable word. Think about Lot's daughters. A pretty uncomfortable story. Aft...

Moses

Lot's Miracle

Ginzberg Legends of the Jews 5:118

It's a story filled with nuance and, frankly, a little bit of surprise. These two nations, Moab and Ammon, were neighbors of the Israelites, descendants of Lot (Abraham's nephew) t...

MiraclesHoly Land

Moab in Battle

Ginzberg Legends of the Jews 5:119

Talk about pressure! The Israelites weren’t exactly waging war on Moab, but their very presence – a kind of “hostile, though not warlike, attitude” as Ginzberg phrases it in Legend...

JosephHoly LandEgypt

Sihon in Battle and Ammon

Ginzberg Legends of the Jews 5:120

The ancient Moabites knew that feeling all too well. See, a little backstory is needed. Remember Sihon and Og? Those formidable Amorite kings? Well, they were expansionists. They'd...

Holy Land

Kingdom of Balak and Israelites

Ginzberg Legends of the Jews 5:121

It wasn't always through armies and diplomacy. Sometimes, they turned to magic. Take Balak, for instance, the King of Moab. He wasn't just any king. The Torah introduces him as the...

Holy Land

Moabites's Miracle

Ginzberg Legends of the Jews 5:122

Our story begins with the Moabites, watching with growing unease as Israel triumphs over their enemies. But they knew it wasn't just military might at play. It was... something els...

MiraclesHoly Land

Balaam's Legacy and Israelites

Ginzberg Legends of the Jews 6:2

Jewish tradition certainly hints at that possibility! Take Balaam, for example. You know, the one hired to curse the Israelites? The Moabites and Midianites thought he was Moses' e...

PatriarchsMosesProphecyHoly Land

Balaam: Solomon and Moses

Ginzberg Legends of the Jews 6:3

The idea is that God wouldn't want anyone to be able to say, "Hey, you kept yourself hidden from us!" later on. So, what did God do? According to some interpretations, God gave eve...

MosesKing DavidSolomonDaniel

Balaam Before the Flood

Ginzberg Legends of the Jews 6:4

And the answer, as often happens in Jewish tradition, is layered and complex, and more than a little surprising. According to the Legends of the Jews, compiled by Rabbi Louis Ginzb...

Noah & FloodPatriarchsMosesJob