Midrash Rabbah

2,921 texts · Page 258 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.

Calf: Betzalel in the Days of Moses

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 48:6

Jewish tradition offers some profound insights, and a fascinating one is tucked away in Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus. It involves t...

MosesTempleSoulHoly Land

Promises to the Fathers and Songs

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 49:1

Our story begins with a seemingly simple verse from Exodus 36:8: "All the wise hearted among those who performed the labor crafted the Tabernacle: ten tapestries of spun linen and ...

PatriarchsMosesSolomonTemple

Songs: Abraham at the Dawn of Creation

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 49:2

Good intentions, maybe, but with a track record that's... well, let's just say "mixed"? That's the feeling at the heart of a beautiful passage in Shemot Rabbah 49, a collection of ...

CreationHeavenPatriarchsJoseph

Maker of Heaven and Earth of Shmuel

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 50:1

The passage starts by quoting Exodus 37:1: “Betzalel crafted the Ark of acacia wood: its length was two and a half cubits, its width a cubit and a half, and its height a cubit and ...

CreationNoah & FloodMosesKing David

Wisdom of Noah and Moses

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 50:2

The ancient rabbis certainly thought so. We find this idea beautifully illustrated in Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus. It uses a verse...

CreationHeavenNoah & FloodMoses

Covenant of Betzalel

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 50:3

But Jewish tradition teaches us that healing often comes from the very source of our pain. The Shemot Rabbah, a compilation of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, explo...

Noah & FloodMosesElijahProphecy

Tabernacle: Divine Presence

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 50:4

It wasn't just a tent; it was a portable sanctuary, a reflection of the Divine Presence, and the artisans poured their hearts and souls into every thread. Shemot Rabbah, a collecti...

Noah & FloodMosesTempleRepentance

Betzalel's Transgression and Tabernacle

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 50:5

The Torah tells us, "Betzalel crafted..." regarding every single item in the Tabernacle. But, wait a minute! Did he really do it all himself? That's the question posed in Shemot Ra...

Hell/GehennaNoah & FloodKing DavidTorah

Trial of Moses and Tabernacle

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 51:1

Who do we trust? Why do we trust them? And what happens when that trust is broken? In Jewish tradition, the concept of trust, of being a ne'eman, a trustworthy person, is incredibl...

MosesSolomonTempleEgypt