Legends of the Jews (Ginzberg)

2,650 texts · Page 236 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.

Wisdom of Samuel and Hannah

Ginzberg Legends of the Jews 3:8

The story of Samuel is a powerful example. We find him, in Legends of the Jews, already displaying wisdom beyond his years as just a two-year-old. Imagine that for a moment. Two ye...

CreationHell/GehennaTempleMessiah

Marriage of Peninnah

Ginzberg Legends of the Jews 3:11

It’s a powerful story of faith rewarded, but there's more to it than just that. The legends tell us that Hannah lived to see not only her son's rise to greatness, but also the down...

Hell/GehennaTorahTemplePrayer

Eli and David

Ginzberg Legends of the Jews 3:13

Eli, as the story goes, had two sons, Hophni and Phinehas. Now, Phinehas – not to be confused with Eli's grandson of the same name – was the younger, and, well, let's just say he w...

King DavidTorahTemplePrayer

Faith of Eli

Ginzberg Legends of the Jews 3:14

The story of Eli and his sons in the Bible is a stark reminder. It's more than just a tale; it's a cautionary legend about leadership, faith, and consequences, retold and amplified...

Noah & FloodMosesJobTorah

The Ark of the Covenant

Ginzberg Legends of the Jews 3:19

The ancient Israelites knew that feeling all too well. Imagine the scene: the Ark of the Covenant, the most sacred object in their possession, finally brought into their land. You’...

Hell/GehennaNoah & Flood

Samuel in Battle

Ginzberg Legends of the Jews 3:21

The ancient Israelites knew that feeling all too well. They were facing defeat after defeat, calamity after calamity. But in the midst of it all, a figure emerged: Samuel. It wasn’...

Hell/GehennaTemplePrayerHoly Land

Death of Samuel

Ginzberg Legends of the Jews 3:22

Samuel, a man of unwavering integrity, embodied peace. He was, as Ginzberg tells us in Legends of the Jews, a judge utterly disinterested in personal gain, refusing compensation fo...

Prophecy

Samuel's Prayer and Saul

Ginzberg Legends of the Jews 3:25

It's easy to think they were simply rejecting God's rule, but the story is more nuanced than that. According to some accounts, it wasn't the desire for a leader that upset Samuel a...

Hell/GehennaCreaturesKing DavidTorah

Kingdom of Saul and Jonathan

Ginzberg Legends of the Jews 3:26

The stories surrounding his reign are filled with drama, piety, and some truly perplexing decisions. One of Saul's very first acts, as recounted in Legends of the Jews, was his tri...

AngelsKing DavidTorahTemple