Midrash Rabbah

2,921 texts · Page 117 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.

Esau: Rebecca at the Dawn of Creation

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 63:6

The verse in Genesis 25:22 tells us "The children were agitated within her, and she said: If this is so, why do I exist? She went to inquire of the Lord." But what exactly does "ag...

CreationHeavenPatriarchsMatriarchs

Sarah: Rebecca and the Origins of the World

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 63:7

In Bereshit Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations of Genesis, specifically in section 63, we find a discussion around the verse, "The Lord said to her" (Genesis 25:23), ...

CreationAngelsNoah & FloodPatriarchs

Foundations of Being and Esau

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 63:8

Take the birth of Jacob and Esau, for example. Seems straightforward. But Bereshit Rabbah, the ancient rabbinic commentary on Genesis, dives deep, revealing layers of interpretatio...

CreationHeavenDemonsPatriarchs

Birth of Esau and Sage

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 63:10

Our story today comes from Bereshit Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Genesis. Specifically, we're looking at section 63, which delves into the lives ...

CreationHell/GehennaPatriarchsProphecy

Esau: Abraham and the Origins of the World

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 63:11

It all boils down to a pot of stew. Genesis 25:29 tells us, "Jacob cooked a stew, and Esau came from the field and he was weary." Simple enough. But within that weariness, and with...

CreationAdam & EveNoah & FloodPatriarchs

Abraham and the Origins of the World

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 63:12

We find a fascinating, and perhaps unsettling, answer in Bereshit Rabbah 63, a section of the ancient Midrash that delves into the lives of Abraham and Isaac, and the troublesome f...

CreationAdam & EvePatriarchsKing David

Jacob: Nimrod and the Origins of the World

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 63:13

We often hear it as a simple transaction: Esau was hungry, Jacob offered food in exchange for the birthright, end of story. But, as always, the Rabbis see layers upon layers, depth...

CreationAdam & EvePatriarchsMoses

Esau: Abraham at the Dawn of Creation

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 63:14

Take the story of Jacob and Esau and that fateful bowl of lentil stew. We often think of it as a simple transaction, a hungry Esau trading away his birthright for a quick meal. But...

CreationPatriarchsMosesSolomon

Kingdom of Isaac and Abraham

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 64:1

Let’s look at Isaac, the son of Abraham. The book of Genesis tells us, "There was a famine in the land, besides the first famine that was during the days of Abraham, and Isaac went...

CreationPatriarchsKing David