Midrash Rabbah

2,921 texts · Page 219 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.

Ezekiel: Moses and the Dreamer

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 6:5

Exodus 6:9 tells us, "Moses spoke so to the children of Israel, but they did not heed Moses because of lack of spirit, and because of hard labor." Can you blame them? They’d been s...

JosephMosesProphecySoul

Kingdom of Aaron and Joseph

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 7:1

The ancient rabbis certainly thought words held immense power, for good and for ill. to a fascinating interpretation of a verse in Exodus, as explored in Shemot Rabbah, a compilati...

CreationJosephMosesSolomon

Moses and the Fires of Gehenna of Aaron

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 7:2

Jewish tradition has a fascinating take on this idea – the concept of divine patience, and what happens when that patience runs out. The Book of Job, that epic poem of suffering an...

Hell/GehennaMosesJobHoly Land

Egypt: Pharaoh in Joseph's Time

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 7:3

Shemot Rabbah, a classic midrashic compilation – a collection of interpretations and expansions on the Book of Exodus (Shemot in Hebrew) – gives us a glimpse behind the curtain. It...

JosephMosesWisdomHoly Land

Pharaoh and the Heavenly Realms of Gehenna

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 7:4

Rabbi Levi starts us off with a parable. Imagine a king who owns a beautiful orchard. Now, in this orchard, he plants not only fruit-bearing trees – the kind that give you deliciou...

HeavenAdam & EveJosephMoses

Moses and the Dreamer of Aminadav

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 7:5

We're not just talking about names and dates; these genealogies are packed with meaning, offering insights into character, destiny, and even how to choose a spouse! Take, for insta...

JosephMosesPrayerHoly Land

Mouth of the Abyss and Solomon

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 8:1

The passage begins with a rather grand statement from Exodus: "See, I have set you as god to Pharaoh; and Aaron your brother will be your prophet” (Exodus 7:1). But what does it re...

Hell/GehennaNoah & FloodJosephMoses

Ezekiel: Nebuchadnezzar and Creation

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 8:2

Jewish tradition has some pretty strong opinions on that. And, spoiler alert: it doesn't end well. Shemot Rabbah, a classic collection of Midrash (interpretive stories) on the Book...

CreationHell/GehennaAngelsJoseph

Teachings of Moses

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 8:3

The Book of Exodus tells us the what – ten devastating plagues – but it's the Midrash, those ancient rabbinic interpretations, that delve into the how. Specifically, let's look at ...

MosesProphecyEgypt