Jacob's Ladder as Elijah and Sinai in Midrash Tanchuma

Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Vayetzei 7:2

Curated by Arthur·Translated by Maggid (Beta)·

Another interpretation of (Genesis 28:12) "And he dreamed, and behold, a ladder set upon the earth": Rabbi Eleazar ben Azariah said: He showed him Elijah, as it is said (II Kings 2:11) "And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into the heavens." Another interpretation of "And he dreamed": Rabbi Simeon ben Yohai said: He showed him Sinai. This is a sign: samekh equals sixty, yod ten, nun fifty, yod ten — behold, one hundred and thirty; and "ladder" (sulam) is one hundred and thirty. It is said here "set upon the earth, and its top reaching to the heavens," and it is said concerning Sinai (Deuteronomy 4:11) "and the mountain burned with fire unto the heart of the heavens."

Themes

ElijahJacobSinHeavenPatriarchs

Biblical References

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