Midrash Aggadah Reader

The great city of God: Why was Nineveh called a great city of God? Because they were evil through their bodies in forbidden sexual relations, as it is written, "How can I do this great evil and sin before God (Genesis 39:9)?

THE LORD SAID - The Holy One, Blessed is He, said: ALL HAVING ONE LANGUAGE - Each understood what his fellow would say to him, whether 'clay' or 'brick,' and this way they would build. During the time that they had one language, they were not restrained from building. Rather, I will confuse their languages and they will put aside the construction. What did G-d do? He called the divine messengers and commanded them to descend below, and each one [of the messengers would teach] each family a different language, so that this family would not understand that family. And so they did, as it says, "Come, let us descend."

Aaron shall place lots on the two goats... (Leviticus 16:8) Why should he do this, and walk that goat to Azazel, and bring him to a great, hard mountain, and push him until he is cut up into many pieces? It is to teach you that we ask from the Creator that just like this goat, which is bearing the sins of Israel on it, just like the goat falls and becomes many pieces, and there remains of it no substance and no benefit, so too, you, King of Kings of Kings, the Holy Blessed One, let fall our transgressions, and may they be lost from your book, and may they have no standing.

And there are those who explain that Israel says: leave the evil inclination, and cast it out [hashlikhu] from upon you, like this goat that is sent out [mishtaleach], and about that is said, the goat bore on it all their sins (of the children of Israel) [to a land cut off] (Leviticus 16:22).

"And his wife looked behind him" - After the angel said, "Do not look behind you" - Her soul was stirred regarding her daughters that remained in Sodom "And she became a piller of salt" - Due to her having sinner with salt. How? In that on that night on which the angels came to Lot's house, she went to her neighbors' places with pretext to ask for salt. Her neighbors said to her, "And why do you need salt? Didn't you know that you were short on salt to got and take salt while it was still daytime?" She said to them, "We didn't need salt until guests came to us." And therefore, the people of Sodom knew about the angel that came to Lot's house.

"And they wept for Aaron thirty days, all the House of Israel" (Numbers 20:29): What is stated about Aaron is greater than what is stated about Moses. As regarding Moses, only the men wept for him, but regarding Aaron, the men and the women wept for him - since he was one that pursued peace and loved peace, and restored peace between a man and his wife, and between a man and his fellow. This is [the meaning of] that which is written (Malachi 2:6), "He walked with Me in peace and justice, and brought many back from iniquity."

And what did Aaron do? When he heard that two men or a man and his wife were arguing, he would go to one of them and say to him, "Your fellow came to me and is distraught in his heart that he angered you; so he cajoled me that I should come to you [and get your forbearance], so that he [can] come to you and be forgiven by you." And Aaron would not leave from there until he would remove all the hatred in his heart and bring peace between them.

Then he would leave. And when he (the one with which Aaron had spoken) met his fellow, they would immediately love and embrace each other and kiss each other. And so was it during all the days of Aaron, peace be upon him; and such was his trait. When he heard that there was an argument between a man and his wife, he would not leave them until they made peace.

Hence the men and the women wept for Aaron, but only the males wept for our teacher Moses, peace be upon him. And also [because] Moses would say, "Let justice pierce the mountain," whereas Aaron would bring a compromise between two litigants.

"And the life of Sarah." Why did it say "and the life of Sarah"? Rather it is to teach that she did not truly live until Isaac was born. From where do we know this?

From the numerical value of "and they were (vayihyu=37, Isaac's age when Sarah died)". From here we learn that anyone who does not have children does not have life. Not only that, rather that person is considered like one who is dead, as it is stated, "give me children." (Genesis 30:1) Another interpretation: "And the life of Sarah." When she was 100, she was like 20 in sin, and when she was 20 she was like a 7 year old in beauty.

Therefore, they said 100 and 20 and 7 years. Another interpretation: "And the life of Sarah." Why is this parsha next to the verse above, as it is stated: "Milcah has borne?" This is what that sage said: "The sun rises and the sun sets." (Ecclesiastes 1:5) That the sun of Rebecca rose before the death of Sarah, our mother.

Another interpretation: "And the life of Sarah etc." Therefore they counted out Sarah's years of life to tell you that it was due to the merit of Sarah who lived 127 years, that Esther would rule over 127 provinces. Another interpretation: "And the life of Sarah." Why is Sarah's death placed after the binding of Isaac? To tell you that when Abraham came from Mount Moriah, he found Sarah had died because of the words of the Satan.

Therefore they blow the Shofar on Rosh Hashanah in order that Sarah's death can serve as atonement for them, since the shofar blast is a cry and a wail.

"In Kiriat Arbah." Because she had four masters/husbands. Another interpretation: That in it were buried four pairs: Adam and Eve, Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebecca, Jacob and Leah. "It is Hevron." Named for that same friend who bought the cave, and that was Abraham.

And it will be for his seed - From here they said that Pinchas was not a kohen until that very moment, when he stood up - as it is written (Malachi 2:5) "My covenant was with him was life and peace" From the [book of] commentary of Eliezer Ben Hyrkanus: "And he said 'I certainly was zealous for Ad-nai'" (I Kings 19:14) The Holy One of Blessing said to Eliahu: You were zealous regarding idolatry in Shittim, as it says: 'Pinchas the son of Eleazar etc.' and here you were certainly zealous!

For your life [I swear] that there will be no brit milah that Israel does and you don't see with your eyes. From here the sages established that a honorary seat will be made for Eliahu, who is the angel of the brit [milah] as it says "And the angel of My brit" (Malachi 3:1) The Holy One of Blessing said to Pinchas: 'you defended My children with your tongue, hold onto the jaw as a gift; you directed the spear on the belly of a man and a woman, hold onto [your] belly; you exerted yourself with your arm, hold your arm as you project peace between people - behold you will bless My children with peace, as it says "May Ad-nai give you favor and grant you peace" (Numbers 6:26) Resh Lakish said: Pinchas and Eliahu are one and the same.

The Holy One of Blessing said to him: you established peace between Me and the children of Israel, so too even in the future you will establish peace between Me and them, as it is written "behold I am sending to you Elijah the prophet" (Malachi 3:23) And it will be for him and his seed after him - that they will be blessed by Me;;forever.

And these are the generations of Isaac son of Abraham. We relate Isaac to Abraham to fulfill what is stated, "And the glory of children is their parents." (Proverbs 17:6) Abraham sired Isaac. We relate Abraham to Isaac to fulfill what is stated, "Grandchildren are the crown of their elders", and all the more so children. Another interpretation: Abraham sired Isaac. Because people were saying that Isaac was the son of Avimelech, therefore the Holy One Blessed Be He made Isaac's face similar to Abraham's, in order that all would know that Isaac is the son of Abraham and not the son of Avimelech. Therefore it is stated, "Abraham sired Isaac." And all who see Isaac would say that he is certainly Abraham's son, since Abraham sired Isaac.

And Isaac was 40 years old. Why? Because he was 37 years old when he was bound (to be sacrificed), on account of which his mother, Sarah, died. And at that same time, Abraham was told that Rebecca had been born, and Isaac waited 3 years for Rebecca, because a woman is not suitable for marriage younger than 3 years old. Sister of Laban the Aramean. And since the verse already said, "the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean", didn't I know that she is the sister of Laban? And wasn't it already stated, "and to Rebecca's brother, and his name is Laban", rather it is to teach you of Rebecca's righteousness, that she was the daughter of Bethuel, who was a deceiver, and the sister of Laban, who was a deceiver, and she did not learn from their bad deeds.

Isaac pleaded. And why is the prayer of the righteous compared to pitchfork? To tell you that just as a pitchfork turns over the grain on the threshing-floor, so too the prayer of the righteous is a pitchfork, that it turns the attribute of judgment and the attribute of anger into the attribute of mercy. Facing his wife. That she was praying on this side and he was praying on the other side. And God responded to his plea. That the Holy One Blessed Be God received Isaac's prayer, and did not receive Rebecca's prayer, because he was a righteous person the son of a righteous person, therefore God received his prayer.

But the children struggled in her womb — whenever she passed the gate of a pagan temple, Esau moved convulsively to get out; whenever she passed by synagogues and study halls, Jacob moved convulsively to get out. Another explanation: They struggled — Esau said to Jacob, "Let's divide the world." Jacob said to him, "You take this world, and I will take the world to come." And likewise did Esau say to Jacob, "You take the world to come and I will take this world."

Another interpretation: Jacob said to Esau, "Sell me your birthright." He said to him, "I will sell you my birthright." And about this it is stated, "sold that day." (Genesis 25:31) He said to him that he should sell him his birthright on the condition that was made between them that day when they were still in the womb. "And she said, If so, why do I exist?"

Rebecca said: If I had known the pain of childbirth, I would not have prayed for childbirth. Another interpretation: "Why do I exist?" Because in the future there would come twelve tribes from Isaac. Rebecca said: There will be great pain for me, why am I asking that twelve tribes should come from me in this way? Then she went to inquire of Hashem — To the study hall of Shem.

"And God answered her: There are two nations etc." For Shem the son of Noah, the Holy One Blessed Be God said, that he will tell her there are two nations in your womb. "There are two nations in your womb." This is Rabbi Yehudah Hanasi and Antoninus, who did not lack for anything on their tables, neither a radish nor horseradish, neither in the days of sun nor in the days of rain. "Two separate peoples shall issue from your body."

From the innards they shall be separated one from the other. "One people shall be mightier than the other." Rome was destroyed and Jerusalem remained, Jerusalem was destroyed and Rome remained. And similarly it is stated,"Now that it is laid in ruins." (Ezekiel 26:2) If one is in ruins, the other will be destroyed too.

Another interpretation: princes from Jacob, kings from Esau, kings from Israel, chiefs from Esau. This like what it says, "these are the kings." (Genesis 36:31) "The older will serve the younger", Esau will serve Jacob.

"There were twins." It (the word for "twins") is missing an alef, and with Tamar, "twins" is written fully (maleh) with the alef. Why? Because they were both righteous ones. But here (with Jacob and Esau), one of them was righteous and one of them was wicked, that is why it is written incomplete (chaser, missing the alef).

"And the first came out ruddy." A spiller of blood. And they called his name Esau. His father and his mother called him Esau because he was a very hairy man.

And after him came out his brother. After Esau rules, Jacob will rule, and this is like what is stated, "For liberators shall march up on Mount Zion etc." (Obadiah 1:21) And his hand holding onto the heel of Esau. That Esau wanted to tear his mother's womb so that Jacob would not come out of there. And Jacob grabbed his ankle so that he could come out after him, but his mother's womb was destroyed and she could not bear children again.

And he called his name Jacob. The Holy One Blessed Be God called him Jacob on account of the heel. And Isaac was 60 years old when he sired them. He waited for Rebecca for 10 years, since she was not able to get pregnant, as she was 3 years old when they got married.

And he waited for her 10 years because a woman does not get pregnant younger than 13 years old. Those same ten years were not counted for her because she was not able to bear children, and after that when she was 13 years old, he waited for her 10 years, just as Abraham did for 23 years. At that time he prayed, and did not want to marry a handmaiden, because he wanted a perfect (wife). And in order to fulfill the words of his father and his mother, he did not want to take a wife for himself from the daughters of the Canaan, therefore he prayed on her behalf.

When the boys grew up etc. A parable to a myrtle and a thorn bush that were growing up side by side. When they are little, no person could recognize which of them is a myrtle and which is a thorn bush. When the myrtle grew, it gave off a good fragrance, and the thorn bush put out its thorns. So too was it with Esau and Jacob: The whole time they were little, no person would know which of them is righteous and which of them is wicked. When they grew, Esau became a man who knows hunting, that he would hunt living creatures and kill them. But Jacob was a mild man who stayed in camp, that he learned in the study hall of Ever and in the study hall of Shem.

Game was in his mouth. That Esau would honor his father and whatever he would hunt, his father would eat it. Another interpretation: Game was in his mouth. That he would ask his father how to tithe salt and straw, and Isaac loved him because he thought Esau was very stringent about the mitzvot. But Esau only asked those things in order to deceive his father. But Rebecca saw Esau's wickedness and she did not love him, but she saw that Jacob was a mild man who loved to learn Torah and who would go to the study hall, and so she loved him.

Jacob was cooking a stew. That same day, Abraham had died, and Jacob was cooking a dish of lentils, in order to feed his father, Isaac. And why do they feed a mourner lentils? Because it is forbidden for a mourner to speak, and just as lentils do not have a mouth (or opening), so too mourners are forbidden to speak, as it is stated, "Aaron was silent." (Leviticus 10:3) Another interpretation: Just as lentils are round, so too death is a cycle of return in the world.

And Esau came in from the field. Five sins did Esau transgress on that day: He stole, as it is stated, "If thieves were to come to you." (Obadiah 1:5) It is written here, "come", and it is written with Esau, "come." He had relations with a betrothed woman, as it is written here, "If he finds in the field" (Deuteronomy 22:25), and it is written with Esau, "in the field." He killed someone, as it is written here, "Alas for me, I faint before the killers" (Jeremiah 4:31), and with Esau it is written, "and he was faint."

And he denied the principal, as it is written here, "he is become my deliverance" (Exodus 15:2), and with Esau it is written, "what is this to me, the birthright?" As it is stated, "thus did Esau spurn the birthright." (25:34)

Give me some of that red stuff. He said to Jacob, I will open my mouth and you can throw it in like a pot. This is like we learned about filling up a camel when one wants to go on a far journey. From this red stuff.

About himself he said "red", as it is stated, "the first came out ruddy." Because on that very day that Esau sinned five times, Abraham died, just as the Holy One Blessed Be God had promised him, that he would be buried in good old age. And this is a good old age, that he (not) see his grandson go out to an evil culture. And about Esau it is stated, "be ever mindful of his father's iniquity." (Psalms 109:14) That he caused Abraham's death and dimmed the eyes of his father, Isaac.

Another interpretation: Sell that day. Just as the day is clear, so too will your sale be clear. And why did Jacob want to buy the birthright? Because from the beginning, the avodah was for the first-borns and not the simple ones.

Jacob said, I am a simple one and I cannot do offerings. And Esau, my brother, is a wicked one and he is not fit to do offerings. Therefore, Jacob bought the birthright from Esau in order to be able to do offerings.

Here I am going to die, what is the birthright to me?! This teaches that he committed heresy. Another interpretation: Here I am going to die etc. That he warred with Nimrod and was afraid that Nimrod might kill him. Another interpretation: Here I am etc. That offerings kill their masters when those who offer them are not righteous, and I am not righteous. What is this birthright to me?! That I will die before my time (to claim it). Another interpretation: Here I etc. I give offerings and work in service to God and I am going to die like people who do not give offerings. If so, why do I work in God's service? Therefore he decided for himself to sell his birthright to Jacob.

And Jacob said swear to me etc. And didn't Jacob know that his brother was a wicked person? Why make him swear to him? Rather, he did not have him swear to him, but instead to swear on the life of his father, as Esau loved him.

And Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew. And similar to the bread and lentil stew that he sold him for his birthright, we learn that so too is it the custom of merchants that after they do their trading, they feed and give drink to the traders. He got up and he went. He associated himself with the wicked ones, and he would say to them: How foolish is my brother Jacob, and it is impossible for a simple one to be the firstborn. And from where do we know that the Holy One Blessed Be God agreed with Jacob? As it is stated, "Israel is my firstborn." (Exodus 4:22) Another interpretation: And he arose and went. That he passed from the world.

And there was a famine in the land. This famine came on account of Isaac to test if he would cry out and complain or not. And he withstood the test and did not cry out to complain, but rather he went to Avimelech, the king of the Philistines, just as his father, Abraham, did.

Stay in the land. As if to say that here is your divine presence. In the land that I point out to you. In the merit of Abraham that I spoke to him "on one of the mountains that I will point out to you." (Genesis 22:2)

Obeyed me and kept my laws. That he made guards for guards, it teaches that Abraham to his merit removed his father's idols. My commandments. That he circumcised Isaac his son when he was 8 days old, just as God had commanded him to. My laws. These are the forbidden mixtures, as it is stated, "My rules shall you observe etc."(Leviticus 18:4) And my teachings. Both the Written Torah and the Oral Torah did Abraham keep.

When some time had passed etc. He thought that since Abimelech had not taken his wife already, that he could banish the thought from his mind (that he would take her).

"And Jacob went out." The Sages said: And weren't there several donkeys and several camels that went out with him from Be'er Sheva, and Scripture does not mention their departing?! And only with Jacob, as it is written, "and Jacob went out." From here we know that a Torah scholar who leaves a place, the people of that place remain orphaned. He went out of there praised, went out of there radiant, and went out of there honored. "And he set out for Haran." And did he set out immediately at that moment from when he left Be'er Sheva? No, rather this teaches that the land shortened itself for him.

"And he laid down in that place." And did he not rest until that particular place? No, rather it teaches that all of the years that he was in the house of his master, he did not truly rest, therefore it is stated, "and he laid down etc".

"And he had a dream and behold, a ladder." From here our Sages of Blessed Memory said: There is no dream without an interpretation. This ladder is Sinai in numerical value (gematria). Another interpretation: A symbol of God.

Another interpretation: The ladder/stairway is the ramp of the altar. "Set on the ground." As it is stated, "At the foot of the mountain." (Exodus 19:7) "And its head reaching the heavens." As it is stated, "And the mountain was ablaze with flames to the very skies." (Deuteronomy 4:11) "And behold, messengers of God."

These are Moses and Aaron. Another interpretation: "Going up and going down on it." They go down and go up as he asks? Rather, these angels that went with him in the land of Israel do not go with him to outside of the land, but instead they go up.

And others went down with him to outside of Israel. And at the moment that they went up into heaven and saw the image of Jacob, our father, inscribed on the Throne of Glory, they said: Isn't he down below? Then who brought him here?! They went down and saw him and wanted to injure him, so immediately the Holy One Blessed Be God came down to save him.

This is the meaning of what is written, "And standing beside him was God." (Genesis 28:13) From here we learn that the pious ones are first and He rides upon them, as it is stated, God was gone from Abraham." (Genesis 17:22)

"The land that you are laying upon." What is it (the land) not larger than this, than the four cubits that he was laying upon?! Rather it teaches us that all of the land of Israel folded up underneath him.

"You shall spread out to the west etc." The Holy One Blessed Be God gave him borders without including Egypt. "All the families of the earth shall bless themselves by you and your descendants." That the world only exists as well as the rains and dew of blessing that come down due to the merit of Israel.

"And I did not know." Had I known, I would not have laid down due to sleep compelling me, as it is forbidden to sleep (in front of God), even in synagogues.

"How awesome is this place." Our Sages said: See, the Holy Temple is built and destroyed, and then rebuilt. Built, as it is stated, "how awesome is this place." And destroyed, as it is stated, "none other." And rebuilt, as it is stated, "the abode of God etc." Another interpretation: "How awesome is this place." It is appropriate to be in awe of this place (or God). "This is the gateway to heaven." It teaches that Jacob, our Father, got up and early and saw the Shechina above his head and was afraid, as there were angels going up and down upon him.

"And he took the stone." It teaches that all of the stones were made into one stone. And why? Because the stones were quarreling with one another. This one saying: Let the righteous man rest his head upon me, and that one saying: Let the righteous man rest his head upon me. A miracle occurred and all of them were turned into a single stone.

"Protect me." Jacob asked that the Holy One Blessed Be God save him from idol worship, adultery, and bloodshed. But in the end, his children stumbled in all of these. "And give me bread to eat." From here we learn that the righteous should not ask for things except for their sustenance and their needs. And Jacob did not even have a garment to wear at the time he left Be'er Sheva, as Esau his brother wanted to kill him. Elifaz was the student of Jacob (Isaac), and asked: What should I do that I won't kill you? And to fulfill the command of his father, they stole all of his money and even all of his garments and left him naked. And poor people are considered like dead people, that four are considered like the dead.

"And Jacob lifted up his feet." Don't a person's feet always carry him? And didn't Jacob also lift up his feet?! Rather, it teaches that his feet were made light from Jacob's great joy that came about because the Holy One Blessed Be God told him that the land of the Easterners would be his.

And he looked and there was a well in the field. teaches that he saw Sinai where the Torah was given, which is called Be'er Haim.... Three flocks of sheep. Priests and Levites and Israelites. Spread out upon it. That they spread out the Torah "From that well." From the Torah, Israel drinks. And the large rock. This is the Shechina, as it is stated, "from there the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel." (Genesis 49:24)

"And they were gathered there." These are Israel, as it is stated, "And they stood at the foot of the mountain." (Exodus 19:17) "And the stone would be rolled." Moses and Aaron received the Torah. "And the sheep watered, and then the stone would be returned." As it is stated, "And Moses brought back the people's words etc." (Exodus 19:8)

"And Jacob said to them etc." In the future, Jacob would go out and call to his sons and ask them: my brothers, where do you come from? "And they replied to him, we are from Haran." We come from God's anger (?).