438 passages in Rabbinic Midrash
Individual passages from Bamidbar Rabbah, shown in source order. Page 4 of 10.
Our journey begins with a rather dramatic scene from (Numbers 5:21), describing the ritual of the sotah, the woman suspected of adultery. The priest says, "May the Lord render you ...
Consider the strange and solemn ritual described in the Book of Numbers, chapter 5, concerning a woman suspected of infidelity. It’s a fascinating, and frankly unsettling, glimpse ...
Bamidbar Rabbah turns to Rabbi Shimon on Drinking the Bitter Waters in Order. The verse we're unpacking is (Numbers 5:24): "He shall give the woman to drink the water of bitterness...
It comes from Numbers, Chapter 5, verse 26. The verse reads: "The priest shall take a handful from the meal offering, its memorial portion, and burn it upon the altar, and then he ...
What Happened When the Suspected Wife Drank the Water is the question behind this passage from Bamidbar Rabbah. So, what’s going on here? The Torah outlines a procedure where a wom...
The verse in (Numbers 5:28) states: “And if the woman was not defiled, and she is pure, she will be absolved and will conceive offspring.” Seems straightforward. But the rabbis of ...
Bamidbar Rabbah turns to High Priest Enters. ” It's a heavy verse, loaded with implications about trust, betrayal, and communal order. But the Rabbis, in their infinite wisdom, don...
It's a heavy place to be, and ancient Jewish law, specifically in the Book of Numbers, addresses this very situation with the ritual of the sotah, the suspected adulteress. What ex...
There’s a fascinating passage in Bamidbar Rabbah – that's the collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Numbers – that dives right into this, focusing on the case of th...
Bamidbar Rabbah turns to Aaron Beyond the Firmament. They ask, what if this isn't just about a husband and wife? What if it’s an allegory for the relationship between God and Israe...
Bamidbar Rabbah, a classic collection of Midrashic (rabbinic interpretive commentary) teachings on the Book of Numbers, gives us a fascinating peek into just that. It takes a passa...
Here, we're unpacking the story of the sotah, the woman suspected of adultery, and the unique ritual designed to determine her guilt or innocence. It's a wild ride, so buckle up. O...
What does it all mean? , drawing on the tradition of Jewish tradition to unravel this mystery. The Torah tells us, "The priest shall write these curses in a scroll, and erase it in...
Bamidbar Rabbah turns to The Law of Jealousy Leaps to a Cosmic Perspective. The passage starts with a verse about the law of jealousy, specifically concerning a woman suspected of ...
This Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary), or interpretive commentary on the Book of Numbers, opens with a verse about the nazir, someone who takes a vow to abstain from cert...
It wasn't just about following rules, but about something much deeper: our hearts and our eyes. to a fascinating passage from Bamidbar Rabbah 10, a section of the great Midrash (ra...
Bamidbar Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic teachings on the Book of Numbers, dives deep into the prophet Amos's rebuke of those who are "tranquil in Zion" (Amos 6:1). Who are these ...
A fascinating story from Bamidbar Rabbah 10, a section of the larger Midrash Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic homilies and interpretations of the Torah. It’s a story about King Sol...
It's a fascinating passage, brimming with insights about responsibility, destiny, and the power of prayer. Bamidbar Rabbah emphasizes the community's role. Why? Because, as it says...
Yet, the rabbis of old saw a deep, underlying unity. A web of connections. Consider the fascinating link they found between the laws of the nazir, the one who takes a vow of separa...
The verse "Speak to the children of Israel…" (Numbers 6:2) but the Rabbis unpack it with incredible detail. The Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary) immediately points out th...
Bamidbar Rabbah opens the laws of the nazir, the person who vows to abstain from wine and grapes in order to dedicate himself to God. The text immediately connects abstaining from ...
It's astonishing, really. The laws of the nazir, the one who takes a vow of separation, a path of heightened holiness. The Book of Numbers lays out some very specific restrictions ...
Take the case of the nazir, or Nazirite, described in the Book of Numbers. But why the hair? What's the deal with that uncut mane? Bamidbar Rabbah, a collection of Rabbinic teachin...
The Book of Numbers (6:6) states: “All the days of his abstinence to the Lord, he shall not approach a dead person.” Bamidbar Rabbah, a classic midrashic (rabbinic interpretive com...
Bamidbar Rabbah turns to Midrash on Numbers. The verse in question, (Numbers 6:8), states: “All the days of his naziriteship he is holy to the Lord.” But the Rabbis weren't ones to...
Bamidbar Rabbah turns to The Nazir Who Suddenly Encounters a Corpse. Our guide is Bamidbar Rabbah, a Midrashic (rabbinic interpretive commentary) compilation on the Book of Numbers...
Bamidbar Rabbah turns to The Impure Nazirite Brings Turtledoves on the Eighth Day. The text hones in on the phrase "And on the eighth day." Why specifically the eighth? Could it be...
Sometimes, the smallest details unlock a whole world of understanding. to a passage from Bamidbar Rabbah, specifically section 10, where we explore the laws surrounding a nazir – a...
"He shall dedicate to the Lord the days of his naziriteship" (Numbers 6:9). But it immediately sparks a question: how does the guilt offering (asham) associated with the Nazirite v...
A fascinating corner of Jewish law: the rules surrounding the nazir, or nazirite, a person who takes a special vow to abstain from certain pleasures for a set period, or even for l...
(Numbers 6:14) lays it out: "He shall sacrifice his offering to the Lord: One unblemished lamb in its first year as a burnt offering, one unblemished ewe in its first year as a sin...
The verse in question, (Numbers 6:15), describes the offerings brought by a Nazirite upon completing their term: “And a basket of unleavened bread, loaves of high quality flour mix...
A reader can imagine the grand sweep of sacrifice, the smoke rising to the heavens, the priests in their sacred garments. But what about the minute details, the exact sequence of e...
Bamidbar Rabbah turns to Kingdom of Nazirite. So, what's going on here? Why all the fuss about hair? Rabbi Yoshiya suggests that the verse emphasizes the importance of the peace of...
Bamidbar Rabbah turns to The Cooked Foreleg Placed on the Nazirite's Palms. The verse Sounds straightforward. But as always, the Rabbis find layers of meaning and nuance within the...
Okay, quick recap: a Nazirite (Nazir in Hebrew) takes a special vow to abstain from wine, cutting their hair, and contact with the dead. When that period ends, there's a whole ritu...
Bamidbar Rabbah turns to The Nazirite's Vow and What 'Besides What He Can Afford' Means. The text centers around (Numbers 6:21), which states: “This is the law of the nazirite who ...
Rabbi Shemaya poses a profound question: Why is the impure nazir, someone who took a vow of separation but then became ritually impure, offered leniency in the form of turtledoves ...
Bamidbar Rabbah turns to Why the Wicked Prosper and How Aaron Blesses Israel. We find a fascinating perspective in Bamidbar Rabbah, specifically in its commentary on (Numbers 6:23)...
Bamidbar Rabbah 11, a section of a Midrash, a collection of rabbinic commentaries on the Book of Numbers, and we'll find some surprising and hopeful insights. The passage starts wi...
Jewish tradition has a lot to say about that moment – that before and after. And it all starts with a verse from Song of Songs: "Behold the bed of Solomon..." (Song of Songs 3:7). ...
This section of Bamidbar Rabbah, a classical midrashic (rabbinic interpretive commentary) text, explores the nuances of this ancient blessing, revealing layers of meaning and pract...
(Numbers 6:24). It’s more than just a nice sentiment. It’s a layered blessing, packed with meaning and implications. Bamidbar Rabbah, a classic collection of rabbinic interpretatio...
" It’s a beautiful, powerful blessing, and it's packed with layers of meaning. just one verse: "May the Lord shine His countenance to you, and be gracious to you" (Numbers 6:25). W...
Take the famous Priestly Blessing from (Numbers 6:26): "May the Lord show favor to you, and grant you peace." Sounds straightforward. But what does it really mean? And how does it ...
Protected, in ancient times. The passage begins with a verse from (Numbers 6:27): “And they shall place My name upon the children of Israel, and I will bless them.” So, what does i...
Bamidbar Rabbah turns to Tabernacle — The Golden Calf. They connect this moment of completion and consecration to (Psalm 85:9): "I will hear what the Almighty Lord has to say, for ...
