Midrash Rabbah

2,921 texts · Page 233 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.

Joseph in Egypt and Israelites

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 20:14

But the Torah tells us, "God did not lead them [naḥam]..." (Exodus 13:17). The word naḥam here is key, often translated as "by way of" or "directly." So, what's the story behind th...

JosephMosesKing DavidHoly Land

Written and Oral Law of Land

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 20:15

It wasn't just about finding the best route to the Promised Land. It was about timing. The Book of Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, of...

TorahHoly Land

Heroines of Israel and Canaanites

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 20:16

But the Torah tells us, "God did not lead them [naḥam]" that way. (Exodus 13:17). So, what gives? There's more to this story than meets the eye. The Rabbis of the Midrash, specific...

MatriarchsMosesHoly LandEgypt

Humility of Moses of Egypt

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 20:17

You'd think after all that, they'd want to get there as quickly as possible. But the Torah tells us something curious: "God led the people around, via the wilderness by the Red Sea...

JosephMosesHoly LandEgypt

Songs of David and Israelites

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 20:18

Jewish tradition teaches us that this feeling might be more than just a lucky coincidence. It might be the very presence of the Divine. Shemot Rabbah, a classic compilation of rabb...

JosephKing DavidMessiahHoly Land

Moses in Battle and Joseph

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 20:19

We all know about the plagues, the parting of the Red Sea... but there's a smaller, more personal story woven into the grand narrative of the Exodus. It's a story of loyalty, promi...

CreationAdam & EveJosephMoses

Moses's Prayer and Esau

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 21:1

The Israelites are trapped. The sea is before them, Pharaoh's army is closing in from behind. Panic is in the air. They cry out to God, as we read in Exodus 14:10: "The children of...

CreationPatriarchsMosesKing David

Moses's Transgression of Rabbis

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 21:2

And in that moment of desperation, Moses, their leader, turned to God. But what happened next is more surprising than you might think. The Book of Exodus, or Shemot in Hebrew, is f...

JosephMosesJobHoly Land

Moses in Solomon's Court and Isaiah

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 21:3

Jewish tradition offers a powerful and comforting perspective on this very human feeling. It suggests that God isn't just listening, but already knows what's in our hearts, even be...

MosesSolomonDanielTorah