All That the Lord Has Spoken We Will Do

Mekhilta DeRabbi Shimon Ben Yochai 19:8

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

"And all the people answered together" (Exodus 19:8): they did not answer with flattery, and they did not take counsel one from another. "And they said, All that the LORD has spoken we will do": we take it upon ourselves. "And Moses brought back the words of the people to the LORD": this was the third day. Another interpretation: "And Moses brought back the words of the people to the LORD"—the verse comes to teach you proper conduct, that even though the one who sent a man has heard the message, the messenger must still report back his errand.

Themes

CovenantTorahCommunity

Continue Reading

Ben SiraAbraham Kept the Covenant of the Most HighBen Sira, also known as Ecclesiasticus, is a book of wisdom literature, a treasure trove of insights into Jewish thought and practice, though it's not included Book of JubileesSinai — Moses's TransgressionBook of Jubilees turns to Sinai — Moses's Transgression. The scene: Moses is up on the mountain, forty days and forty nights. The man is communing with the DiviBook of JubileesThe Ancient Roots of the Feast of WeeksWhere does that come from, really? We find a fascinating glimpse into its ancient roots in the Book of Jubilees. Now, the Book of Jubilees is a fascinating textBook of JubileesGod Sets the Rainbow as a Sign of PromiseThe Book of Jubilees, treasured as scripture by some ancient Jewish communities like the Essenes of Qumran, retells the Torah with a storyteller's eye for detaiBook of JubileesCovenant of Abraham of CanaanThere are moments in the Torah where the sky seems to split open and a promise falls through. Chapter 15 of Genesis is one of them. In it, God binds Himself to Book of JubileesThe Promise of a Son to Abraham and SarahIt's explored in fascinating detail in texts like the Book of Jubilees. It's not part of the Hebrew Bible canon, but it was clearly important to certain Jewish