Midrash Rabbah

2,921 texts · Page 32 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.

Isaiah: Abraham and Creation

Midrash Rabbah Bamidbar Rabbah 16:3

Bamidbar Rabbah 16 opens with a powerful quote from Isaiah 40:8: "The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever." Rabbi Aḥa the Great uses this ve...

CreationPatriarchsMosesProphecy

Moses and Solomon of Send

Midrash Rabbah Bamidbar Rabbah 16:4

The verse in Numbers 13:2, “Send you men,” seems simple enough. But Bamidbar Rabbah, a fascinating collection of Midrashic interpretations on the Book of Numbers, digs deeper. It s...

MosesSolomonProphecyRepentance

Wisdom of Solomon of Moses

Midrash Rabbah Bamidbar Rabbah 16:5

The verse from Proverbs (26:6) sets the stage: “One who sends things by the hand of a fool cuts off his feet and drinks rancor.” Ouch. Strong words. But here's the puzzle: were the...

MosesSolomonProphecyHoly Land

Miriam and Divine Judgment

Midrash Rabbah Bamidbar Rabbah 16:6

We're good at selective hearing. Well, Jewish tradition suggests this happened big time with the story of the spies sent to scout the land of Canaan. Our story comes from Bamidbar ...

Hell/GehennaMosesProphecyJudgment

Moses and the Ark

Midrash Rabbah Bamidbar Rabbah 16:7

Like checking the price tag after you’ve already won the lottery. Well, according to Bamidbar Rabbah 16, part of the larger collection of Midrashic literature called Bamidbar Rabba...

Noah & FloodJosephMosesKing David

Covenant of Moses and Egypt

Midrash Rabbah Bamidbar Rabbah 16:8

We all know the story of the spies. The Israelites, poised to enter the Promised Land, get cold feet. "Let's send some scouts ahead," they suggest to Moses. But what was really goi...

JosephMosesDanielEgypt

Moses in Jewish Tradition and Joshua

Midrash Rabbah Bamidbar Rabbah 16:9

The Torah tells us, "Moses called Hoshea son of Nun, Joshua [Yehoshua]" (Numbers 13:16). But here's the question: why did Moses change Hoshea's name to Joshua? What prompted this a...

Moses

Ishmael Among the Fathers

Midrash Rabbah Bamidbar Rabbah 16:10

Does a name shape destiny? Does it reflect character? Or is it just… a label? The book of Numbers, Bamidbar in Hebrew, gives us a lot to chew on in that regard. Specifically, Bamid...

PatriarchsHoly LandExile

Mission of Moses and Canaan

Midrash Rabbah Bamidbar Rabbah 16:11

The story of the spies sent to scout the Land of Canaan in the Book of Numbers is a powerful example of how fear and negative speech can derail even the most promising journeys. Th...

MosesTempleMessiahProphecy