Parshat Bo

2,086 related texts · Page 28 of 44

The final three plagues including the death of the firstborn, the first Passover, and the Exodus from Egypt. Exodus 10:1-13:16.

Moses — Song at the Sea

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 23:1

to a fascinating interpretation of a familiar story – the Song at the Sea, from Exodus 15. You know, the one that starts, "Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to t...

MosesKing DavidHoly LandEgypt

Rabbi Abahu's Song

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 23:2

The ancient Israelites, fresh out of Egypt, knew that feeling all too well. We find a fascinating glimpse into this in Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on th...

CreationJosephMosesKing David

Moses Sang at the Red Sea to Atone for Past Doubt

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 23:3

Shemot Rabbah, a collection of Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary)ic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, offers a fascinating insight into this very question, focusing on...

MosesSolomonProphecyRepentance

The First Song Ever Sung From Creation Until the Sea

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 23:4

It all starts with the verse, "Then Moses…sang" (Exodus 15:1). The Rabbis connect this to (Proverbs 31:26), "She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her...

CreationAngelsAdam & EvePatriarchs

Moses Sings and the Bond Between God and Israel Endures

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 23:5

We’re diving into Shemot Rabbah today, specifically section 23, which explores the verse, “Then Moses…sang” (Exodus 15:1). But this isn’t just about a song after crossing the Sea o...

CreationHeavenPatriarchsMoses

Who Got to Sing First After the Sea Was Split

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 23:7

The story begins, as we all know, with the parting of the Red Sea. A moment of unimaginable salvation for the Israelites, fleeing slavery in Egypt. Moses leads the people, and as t...

JosephMosesKing DavidProphecy

The Children Who Recognized God at the Red Sea First

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 23:8

Our story comes from Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus. It paints a breathtaking picture of divine intervention and the unwavering faith...

JosephMosesSolomonProphecy

I Am Dark but Beautiful Says Israel After the Sea

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 23:10

And they found a surprising way to express it. In Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, we find a fascinating reading of the verse, "Then M...

MosesKing DavidSolomonTorah

The Song at the Sea as a Declaration of Purity

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 23:12

Shemot Rabbah, a rich collection of Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary)ic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, offers a powerful reading of the verse "Then Moses…sang [thi...

CreationHell/GehennaNoah & FloodJoseph

The Horse and His Rider Cast Into the Sea

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 23:15

We know the story: the Israelites trapped, the Egyptians bearing down, then – miraculously – the waters split, a path appears, and they escape to freedom. But what about the unseen...

AngelsMosesProphecyMysticism

Three Days Without Water in the Wilderness of Shur

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 24:1

The Israelites, fresh from their miraculous escape from Egypt, certainly did. The book of Exodus tells us, "Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went out to the wilderness of...

AngelsJosephMosesKing David

Moses and the Dreamer of Okay

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 24:2

Rabbi Yehuda tells us that the Israelites reasoned, "The Holy One, blessed be He, only took us out of Egypt for five things!" What were those five things? First, to give us the plu...

JosephMosesPrayerHoly Land

Moses — Yitro and the Fires of Gehenna

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 24:3

It might seem a little... unflattering at first glance. But as with so many things in our tradition, there's a depth and beauty to be found when we dig a little deeper. Shemot Rabb...

Hell/GehennaJosephMosesKing David

The Wilderness of Shur and What Its Name Reveals

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 24:4

We often gloss over place names, assuming they're just… well, places. But sometimes, they're so much more. Take, for example, the phrase "the wilderness of Shur," which pops up in ...

CreationAdam & EvePatriarchsJoseph

Rabbi Eliezer's Miracle

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 25:2

to a fascinating passage from Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, that really gets to the heart of this question. Rabbi Simon, quoting Ra...

CreationAngelsMosesKing David

There Is None Like God Among All the Powers

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 25:6

Shemot Rabbah, a classic collection of Midrash on the book of Exodus, tackles this very question, and the answers are, frankly, . It starts with a verse from Psalms: "There is none...

CreationMosesKing DavidProphecy

Go Out and Gather Each Day's Portion of Manna

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 25:9

It’s not just about receiving, but about the giving, the engagement, the doing. to a fascinating passage from Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of...

MosesKing DavidSolomonTorah

Amalek in Battle

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 26:1

The Jewish people know that feeling all too well. In fact, there's a fascinating passage in Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, that uses...

MosesJobHoly LandExile

Israel Complains of Thirst and God Provides Water

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 26:2

The Israelites certainly did. In the book of Exodus, right after the incredible miracle of being freed from Egypt, they find themselves wandering in the desert, thirsty and complai...

Hell/GehennaJosephMosesMysticism

Why Moses Chose Joshua to Fight Against Amalek

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 26:3

Take the story of the war against Amalek in (Exodus 17:9). Moses tells Joshua, "Choose men for us and go out and wage war with Amalek; tomorrow I will be standing on top of the hil...

CreationJosephMosesRepentance

Wisdom of Yitro

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 27:2

The Book of Exodus gives us a powerful example in the story of Yitro, Moses' father-in-law. And the midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary), specifically Shemot Rabbah, offers u...

HeavenNoah & FloodMosesKing David

Yitro's Miracle

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 27:3

It’s a recurring theme in Jewish tradition, and one particularly striking example comes to us from Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus. Th...

MosesPrayerHoly LandEgypt

What Exactly Did Jethro Hear That Made Him Come

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 27:4

A single event, a powerful moment, that resonates far beyond its origin. The Book of Exodus, or Shemot in Hebrew, tells us that "Yitro heard..." (Exodus 18:1). But what exactly did...

JosephMosesKing DavidSolomon

Yitro and the Fires of Gehenna of Amalek

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 27:6

He appears in the narrative, offers Moses some crucial advice, and then… well, what do we really know about him? The Book of Exodus tells us, “Yitro heard…” (Exodus 18:1). But hear...

Hell/GehennaPatriarchsMosesKing David

How Jethro's Earlier Kindness Was Repaid With Blessing

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 27:7

It all revolves around Yitro, Moses' father-in-law. The verse we're looking at is “Yitro…heard” (Exodus 18:1), which is the start of the portion where Yitro comes to visit Moses in...

MosesSolomonHoly LandEgypt

Yitro's Journey

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 27:8

In Jewish tradition, names aren't just labels. They're packed with meaning, hinting at a person's essence, their journey, their very destiny. Take Yitro, Moses' father-in-law. He's...

PatriarchsMosesTorahEgypt

The Many Surprising Identities and Names of Jethro

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 27:9

The ancient rabbis grappled with this very idea, and their insights, preserved in Shemot Rabbah, a collection of homiletic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, offer some fascina...

Hell/GehennaPatriarchsJosephMoses

Moses Ascended to Heaven and Took the Torah Captive

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 28:1

We all know the story, but the Rabbis of the Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary), those ancient interpreters of scripture, delve into the details, revealing layers of meanin...

HeavenAngelsAdam & EvePatriarchs

Why God Spoke to Moses From the Mountain

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 28:2

And the Shemot Rabbah, a classical collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, gives us some fascinating answers. "The Lord called to him from the mountain, sayin...

Adam & EvePatriarchsMosesKing David

Why God Wanted Israel to Receive the Torah Directly

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 28:3

The Torah tells us in (Exodus 19:8), "Moses reported the statement of the people to the Lord." According to Shemot Rabbah, this moment prompted God to want to give the Torah to the...

CreationHeavenMosesTorah

How God Can Be Warrior and Teacher All at Once

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 28:5

Shemot Rabbah (a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus) offers a mind-bending perspective on this, using God as the ultimate example. It begins with the simp...

MosesJobTorahEgypt

Jethro and the Dreamer

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 29:5

It’s a declaration, a relationship. And Shemot Rabbah, the great collection of homiletical teachings on the Book of Exodus, offers some profound insights into why this phrasing is ...

JosephMosesTorahProphecy

The Terrifying Power and Awe of Receiving the Torah

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 29:9

We often picture a grand, almost theatrical event. But the ancient texts hint at something far more profound, and even a little terrifying. The Shemot Rabbah, a classic collection ...

CreationMosesKing DavidSolomon

Nebuchadnezzar and the Lawgiver of Israelites

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 30:1

, shall we? The verse "These are the ordinances that you shall place before them" (Exodus 21:1) seems straightforward enough. But the Rabbis, in their infinite wisdom, saw much mor...

MosesKing DavidDanielProphecy

Life of Moses and the Altar

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 30:2

Take a look at Exodus. Right after we're told, "You shall not ascend on stairs to My altar, so that your nakedness will not be exposed upon it," (Exodus 20:23) we suddenly read, "A...

MosesTorahTempleEgypt

The Difference Between These and And These in Torah

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 30:3

In Jewish tradition, even a single letter can unlock hidden depths." It's a difference that, according to some rabbinic interpretations, can tell us what's being included and what'...

CreationAngelsAdam & EveNoah & Flood

Accidental Harm to a Pregnant Woman in Torah Law

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 30:6

This passage dives into the verses in Exodus dealing with accidental harm to a pregnant woman. The text quotes (Exodus 21:22-23): “If men fight and they strike a pregnant woman and...

Hell/GehennaMosesKing DavidTorah

Golden Calf and the Fires of Gehenna

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 30:7

It all starts with a seemingly straightforward verse from (Exodus 21:37): “If a man steals an ox or a sheep and slaughters it or sells it, he shall pay five cattle for the ox and f...

Hell/GehennaJosephMosesKing David

Why God Commands Special Protection for Widows and Orphans

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 30:8

It might seem obvious – they're in need of help! But the Rabbis, those masters of interpretation, saw something deeper at play. Consider the verse in Exodus (22:21): "You shall not...

HeavenMosesKing DavidElijah

God's Ordinances Given to Israel and No Other Nation

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 30:9

It's a pretty radical concept, really. Shemot Rabbah, a classic collection of Midrash on the Book of Exodus, dives right into this. It starts with the verse "These are the ordinanc...

CreationHell/GehennaAdam & EveNoah & Flood

How God Showed Love to Moses Through the Law

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 30:10

It all centers around the Hebrew word ve’eleh, meaning "these are." The Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary) opens with a question: What's so special about ve’eleh? The Rabbi...

CreationJosephMosesHoly Land

The Ordinances That Link Adam's World to Moses' Law

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 30:13

In Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, we find a fascinating exploration of this idea, starting with the verse "These are the ordinances....

CreationHeavenAdam & EveNoah & Flood

Endow the King With Your Justice O God Says the Psalmist

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 30:15

The text opens with a quote from Psalms: "Endow the king with Your justice, God…May he judge Your people with righteousness" (Psalms 72:1–2). Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi, a key figure in t...

CreationJosephMosesKing David

Shittim Faces Judgment

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 30:21

Shemot Rabbah 30 begins by stating that "the punishment that is prepared for the wicked is plentiful," drawing on the fiery imagery of (Psalms 11:6), "He will rain burning coal upo...

Hell/GehennaMosesKing DavidSolomon

Maintain Justice and Perform Charity Says Isaiah

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 30:24

The Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, dives deep into this question, particularly in section 30. It all starts with a verse from Isaiah...

CreationHeavenHell/GehennaPatriarchs

Lending Money and the Hidden Cosmic Debt We Owe

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 31:1

And more importantly, there's a way out. The verse in Exodus (22:24) says, "If you lend money to My people, to the poor who is with you, you shall not be as a creditor to him; you ...

MosesKing DavidProphecyRepentance

The Dangers of Lending Money With Interest

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 31:6

to a passage from Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, and see how shockingly relevant it still is. We're talking about money, lending, an...

Adam & EveMosesKing DavidMessiah

Return a Borrowed Garment Before the Sun Sets

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 31:7

to a passage from Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, and see how it pulses with a very human heart. It's a passage all about lending, bo...

MosesRepentanceEgypt