Midrash Rabbah

2,921 texts · Page 220 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.

Pharaoh's Miracle and Isaiah

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 9:1

It's all there in the book of Exodus, chapter 7, verse 9: "When Pharaoh will speak to you, saying: Provide a wonder for you; then you shall say to Aaron: Take your staff, and cast ...

CreationAngelsAdam & EveNoah & Flood

Aaron: Pharaoh and the Lawgiver

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 9:2

But in the story of the Exodus, a staff becomes a symbol of divine power, a tool for liberation, and, surprisingly, a way to deal with really stubborn people. The book of Shemot Ra...

MosesKing DavidMiraclesHoly Land

Moses and the First Humans of Egypt

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 9:3

Unthinkable. Yet, that's precisely the level of focus the Sages expected during prayer. The Mishna Berakhot (5:1) tells us that even if a king greets you, or a serpent wraps around...

Adam & EveJosephMosesProphecy

Abraham in Paradise and Pharaoh

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 9:4

It's not just a random trick. It's a direct confrontation, a symbolic smackdown, if you will. : Pharaoh saw himself as a god, the supreme ruler of Egypt, unshakeable and all-powerf...

Adam & EveJosephMosesProphecy

Aaron: Moses and Adam

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 9:5

It might seem trivial, but sometimes, the order of things speaks volumes. Think about when Moses and Aaron first approach Pharaoh. The verse in Exodus 7:10 tells us, "Moses and Aar...

Adam & EveJosephMosesMiracles

Pharaoh: Moses's Miracle

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 9:6

And his reaction to Moses and Aaron's miracles in Egypt, as described in Shemot Rabbah, is a masterclass in insecure overcompensation. We all know the story: Moses and Aaron come b...

JosephMosesMiraclesWisdom

Ahasuerus and Adam

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 9:7

The ancient Rabbis certainly thought about that feeling, and they found it in a surprising place: the showdown between Moses and Pharaoh's magicians. The verse in Exodus 7:12 tells...

Adam & EveMosesSolomonEsther

Pharaoh in Paradise

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 9:8

It's not just about historical record; it's about understanding the nature of arrogance and divine justice. The book of Exodus tells us, "Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he did n...

Adam & EveMosesSolomonEgypt

Behold: Pharaoh at the Dawn of Creation

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 9:9

It wasn't just random chaos, you know. There's a deeply considered, almost… merciful… method to the madness. The Book of Exodus (7:16-17) sets the stage: "You shall say to him: The...

CreationMosesJobProphecy