Parshat Shoftim

2,567 related texts · Page 236 of 286

Laws of judges and officers, the king, the Levitical priests, true and false prophets, cities of refuge, and warfare. Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9.

Stars and Firmament and the Serpent

Midrash Rabbah Kohelet Rabbah 11:1

Ancient Jewish wisdom grappled with these questions too. Take this passage from Kohelet Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Ecclesiastes. It starts with...

CreationHeavenHell/GehennaAngels

Rabbi Eliezer and the Patriarchs

Midrash Rabbah Kohelet Rabbah 2:1

"Distribute a portion to seven, and also to eight, as you do not know what evil will be upon the earth" (Ecclesiastes 11:2). Simple enough. But what does it mean? That’s where Kohe...

PatriarchsJosephMosesKing David

Rabbi Mona in Solomon's Court

Midrash Rabbah Kohelet Rabbah 3:1

"If the clouds are full of rain, they empty themselves upon the land," it says, "and if the tree falls in the south, or in the north, in the place where the tree falls, there it sh...

SolomonTorahProphecySoul

Temple of Solomon

Midrash Rabbah Kohelet Rabbah 7:1

Uplifting, even. The book of Ecclesiastes, or Kohelet as we know it in Hebrew, captures this feeling perfectly: "The light is sweet, and it is good for the eyes to behold the sun."...

SolomonTorahMessiahProphecy

First Days of Existence and Look

Midrash Rabbah Kohelet Rabbah 7:1

The Rabbis in Kohelet Rabbah delve deep into this verse, unpacking its layers of meaning. Rabbi Pinḥas and Rabbi Ḥilkiya, in the name of Rabbi Simon, pose a crucial question: When ...

CreationHell/GehennaCreaturesNoah & Flood

Leah: Reuben at the Dawn of Creation

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 1:5

The ancient rabbis certainly did. They saw layers of meaning, hidden connections, and prophecies woven into the very fabric of the Torah. Take the beginning of the Book of Exodus, ...

CreationHeavenMatriarchsJoseph

Levi's Legacy and Yehoshua

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 1:6

It’s not a typo, and it’s definitely not random! There’s a beautiful lesson tucked away in that apparent inconsistency. Rabbi Yehoshua of Sikhnin, quoting Rabbi Levi, offered a pow...

PatriarchsProphecyHoly Land

Pharaoh's Transgression and Isaiah

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 1:9

"He said to his people: Behold, the nation of the children of Israel is more numerous and mighty than us" (Exodus 1:9). This is Pharaoh, setting the stage for oppression. But Shemo...

Noah & FloodJosephMosesKing David

Descent to Sheol and Pharaoh

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 1:10

Take the story of the Israelite enslavement in Egypt. We all know the basics, but the details… well, that’s where things get interesting. Let's delve into some fascinating interpre...

Hell/GehennaMosesProphecyHoly Land