Legends of the Jews (Ginzberg)

2,650 texts · Page 213 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.

Phinehas and the Patriarchs

Ginzberg Legends of the Jews 6:68

We find the story in Numbers 25, where Phinehas takes decisive action to stop a plague ravaging the Israelites. But as much as God approved of his act, not everyone was thrilled. A...

PatriarchsJosephMosesTemple

Phinehas Awaits the Messiah

Ginzberg Legends of the Jews 6:69

Phinehas, you might recall, was the grandson of Aaron, the High Priest. He's known for his decisive action against those who brazenly defied God’s laws (Numbers 25). But the story ...

ElijahMessiahProphecySoul

Divine Intervention and Shittim

Ginzberg Legends of the Jews 6:70

Why the glee? Because, according to this legend (Ginzberg, Legends of the Jews, Vol. 3, p. 311), the other nations understood something profound: God had chosen Israel, had given t...

TorahMiraclesHoly Land

Faith of Abraham of Egypt

Ginzberg Legends of the Jews 6:71

It might seem like a simple administrative task, but according to some fascinating Jewish traditions, there's a deeper, more spiritual reason behind it. The story goes that God com...

PatriarchsJosephMosesMiracles

Faith of Moses and Eleazar

Ginzberg Legends of the Jews 6:74

It’s not just about knowing how many are present, but something far deeper, a spiritual accounting, if you will. When God led the Israelites out of Egypt, He didn't just release a ...

PatriarchsJosephMosesMiracles

Zelophehad's Vision

Ginzberg Legends of the Jews 6:75

We find their story tucked away in the book of Numbers (Numbers 27:1-11), but the aggadah, the rich tapestry of Jewish storytelling, really brings them to life. I'm talking about t...

JosephHoly LandDeath

Death of Zelophehad and Moses

Ginzberg Legends of the Jews 6:76

Your father has died, leaving no sons. Now, under the laws of inheritance, you and your sisters are facing a grim future: no land, no security, no real place in the community. What...

JosephMosesTorahWisdom

Moses's Transgression and Land

Ginzberg Legends of the Jews 6:77

Sometimes, it's not who you expect. In the story of the Israelites wandering in the desert, fresh from their Exodus from Egypt, we often focus on the big figures: Moses, Aaron, the...

JosephMosesPrayerRepentance

Death of Zelophehad of Moses

Ginzberg Legends of the Jews 6:78

That's the story of the daughters of Zelophehad, and it's a tale that resonates even today. These weren't just any women; they were on a mission. Their father, Zelophehad, had died...

HeavenMosesTorahDeath