Alexander, Ishmaelites & Jews

Exempla of the Rabbis, No. 6

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·March 24, 2026

6. Alexander, Ishmaelites &

Jews.

Sanhedrin, f. 91 a— b. Meg. Taanit, ch. 3. Midr. Hagadol, Gen., Hayye Sarah.

Gen. R., 61.

Aboab, Men. Ham.

ch. 141.

Yalk. § no.

Yalk. Sip. I, p. 85. Tertullian, Ad vers. Mar- cion II, 20.

Cod. G. 242, f. 65a.

Themes

Kings Abraham Egypt Adam Eve Torah

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Mekhilta DeRabbi YishmaelThis is one of three things in the Torah which RThe Mekhilta here records a striking admission of method. R. Yishmael teaches that there are three places in the Torah where the plain words cannot be read lite Midrash TanchumaThe Lord on Unto Abram Get Thee Out of Thy CountryAnd the Lord said unto Abram: “Get thee out of thy country” (Gen. 12:1). May it please our master to teach us whether an Israelite is permitted to take upon him Book of JubileesKingdom of ChedorlaomerBook of Jubilees turns to Kingdom of Chedorlaomer. The scene opens with a list of kings – Chedorlaomer of Elam, Amraphel of Shinar, Arioch of Ellasar, and Tidal Book of JubileesIsaac — Kingdom of AbrahamBook of Jubilees turns to Isaac — Kingdom of Abraham. The Book of Jubilees tells us that this grand weaning party happened in the third month. We don't know exa Letter of AristeasPsammetichus and the DreamerOne fascinating, though potentially embellished, account is found in the Letter of Aristeas, a Hellenistic Jewish text purporting to describe how the Hebrew Bib Letter of AristeasSeptuagint Studies TorahOur tale begins with a letter – the Letter of Aristeas, to be precise. It purports to be from a courtier named Aristeas to his brother Philocrates, recounting t