Midrash Rabbah

2,921 texts · Page 224 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.

Moses and Joseph

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 13:4

It wasn't just about remembering the events, but about understanding the deeper meaning behind them. The Torah tells us, "And so that you will relate in the ears of your son, and o...

JosephMosesTorahProphecy

Pharaoh: Moses and the Holy Sanctuary

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 13:5

The passage centers around Exodus 10:10, where Pharaoh says, "So let the Lord be with you, when I will let you and your children go; see that evil is facing you." It seems like a b...

MosesTempleEgypt

Moses in Battle of Pharaoh

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 13:6

We often focus on the miraculous nature of it all, but sometimes, the Rabbis of the Midrash offer us insights into the why behind the what. Take the plague of locusts, for instance...

JosephMosesRepentanceHoly Land

Moses the Lawgiver and Egyptians

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 13:7

That agonizing tease of liberation is a feeling the Israelites knew all too well as they stood on the brink of freedom from Egypt. We find ourselves in the thick of it in Exodus 10...

JosephMosesMiraclesHoly Land

Moses and the Dreamer of Egyptians

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 14:1

In Exodus 10:21, God tells Moses to stretch out his hand, and the text says, "there will be darkness over the land of Egypt, and the darkness will be tangible." Tangible! What does...

JosephMosesKing DavidEgypt

Foundations of Being and Gehenna

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 14:2

"Moses extended his hand toward the heavens, and there was a thick darkness in the entire land of Egypt for three days. They did not see one another, and no one rose from his place...

CreationJosephMosesKing David

First Days of Existence and Israelites

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 14:3

It's easy to see them as simply divine punishments, but Jewish tradition often delves deeper, searching for layers of meaning and nuance. Let's look at the plague of darkness, as e...

CreationJosephMosesKing David

Covenant of Moses and Pharaoh

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 14:4

It's so much more than just a simple "Let my people go!" narrative. Take, for instance, the exchange in Exodus 10:24-29. It's a masterclass in negotiation, divine will, and maybe e...

MosesTempleEgyptSacrifice

Songs: Moses at the Dawn of Creation

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 15:1

The Israelites certainly did in Egypt. But even in the darkest of times, hope can blossom. And it often arrives in unexpected ways. Our story begins, as so many do, with a word fro...

CreationHeavenPatriarchsJoseph