Legends of the Jews (Ginzberg)

2,650 texts · Page 234 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.

Sheilah at the Dawn of Creation

Ginzberg Legends of the Jews 2:61

After a successful military campaign, Jephthah is met by his daughter, Sheilah. But instead of joy, a wave of anguish washes over him. He cries out, lamenting that her name, Sheila...

CreationHeavenTempleMessiah

Jephthah Faces Judgment and Sacrifice

Ginzberg Legends of the Jews 2:62

Let’s talk about Jephthah. You might remember him. He was one of the Judges of Israel, a military leader, a powerful figure. But he's also remembered for a vow he made, a vow that ...

Hell/GehennaPatriarchsTorahTemple

Jephthah Faces Judgment and Phinehas

Ginzberg Legends of the Jews 2:63

The story of Jephthah and Phinehas is a stark reminder. We find this tale tucked away in Ginzberg's Legends of the Jews, and it centers around a difficult legal question. Someone's...

Hell/GehennaTempleSoulHoly Land

Kingdom of Abdon

Ginzberg Legends of the Jews 2:66

Take Abdon, for example. He succeeded Jephthah, and just as Jephthah had the unenviable task of dealing with the Ammonites, Abdon had to face the Moabites. Imagine this: The king o...

CreaturesKing DavidTorahHoly Land

Samson Among the Fathers and Jacob

Ginzberg Legends of the Jews 2:67

We all know the story: the long hair, the Philistines, the betrayal by Delilah. But the tales surrounding Samson, as recounted in Ginzberg's Legends of the Jews, go far beyond what...

PatriarchsMessiahSoulMiracles

Samson and Divine Judgment

Ginzberg Legends of the Jews 2:69

The tale of Samson is definitely one of those. We know him as this incredible strongman, but his story, as the Legends of the Jews retells it, is full of so much more than just bru...

Hell/GehennaCreaturesPatriarchsMysticism

Samson Among the Fathers and Philistines

Ginzberg Legends of the Jews 2:70

We all know the story of Samson – the strongman betrayed by Delilah, his hair cut, his strength gone, his eyes gouged out by the Philistines. A tragic hero, to say the least. But e...

PatriarchsMessiahPrayerJudgment

Micah and the Dreamer

Ginzberg Legends of the Jews 2:72

The story of Micah is, frankly, a wild ride. It all starts with Delilah. Yes, that Delilah – the one who betrayed Samson. According to the Legends of the Jews, Delilah took some of...

JosephMosesTempleMysticism

Micah and the Holy Sanctuary

Ginzberg Legends of the Jews 2:73

The story of Micah and his homemade sanctuary is a wild ride through the human tendency to, well, improvise. We find this tale tucked away in Ginzberg's Legends of the Jews, painti...

CreaturesTemple