Midrash Rabbah

2,921 texts · Page 11 of 325

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.

Kehat and Noah of Levites

Midrash Rabbah Bamidbar Rabbah 6:11

Maybe it's your stamp collection, each one unique. Or the number of books you've amassed over the years. We count them separately, admiring each one, and then we count them all tog...

Noah & FloodMosesTemple

Israelites: Coat of Many Colors

Midrash Rabbah Bamidbar Rabbah 7:1

It might seem harsh at first glance, but let's dig into the story behind it, as told in Bamidbar Rabbah (7) – a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Numbers. The v...

HeavenJosephMosesSolomon

Levites: Moses at the Dawn of Creation

Midrash Rabbah Bamidbar Rabbah 7:2

It's almost like a cosmic nudge, inviting us to dig a little deeper. Take, for example, the juxtaposition of the laws concerning lepers right before the section detailing the dutie...

CreationJosephMosesKing David

Aaron Faces Judgment and Kings

Midrash Rabbah Bamidbar Rabbah 7:3

And Bamidbar Rabbah, specifically chapter 7, gives us a fascinating peek into their thinking. It uses a series of comparisons to illustrate God's, well, "royal" attributes, if you ...

Hell/GehennaMosesHoly LandEgypt

Golden Calf and the Dreamer

Midrash Rabbah Bamidbar Rabbah 7:4

Leprosy, for example, wasn't just a disease. According to some Jewish traditions, it could be a sign of something deeper, a consequence of wrongdoing. But what wrongdoing specifica...

JosephMosesKing DavidJob

Goliath and the Origins of the World

Midrash Rabbah Bamidbar Rabbah 7:5

The ancient rabbis grappled with these questions constantly, searching for meaning in misfortune. One particularly fascinating exploration revolves around the affliction of leprosy...

CreationHeavenCreaturesJoseph

Choirs of Angels and Israelites

Midrash Rabbah Bamidbar Rabbah 7:6

Rabbi Yosei HaGelili, a sage known for his sharp insights, challenges us to consider just that. He points to a time when things were different for the Israelites, a time of purity ...

AngelsTorahRepentanceSinai

Before the Fall and Command

Midrash Rabbah Bamidbar Rabbah 7:7

It's not just a stylistic choice. Our sages teach that each word carries a world of meaning. Take the word tzav (צו), for instance. What does it really mean when God commands? In t...

CreationAdam & EveTorahWisdom

Noah's Generation and Israelite

Midrash Rabbah Bamidbar Rabbah 7:8

It's not just about physical cleanliness, but a whole system of ritual purity and impurity that touches upon nearly every aspect of life. Today, we’re diving into a fascinating pas...

HeavenNoah & FloodTempleRepentance