Parshat Lech Lecha

12,014 related texts · Page 205 of 251

God calls Abraham to leave his homeland for Canaan. Covers Abraham and Sarah in Egypt, the separation from Lot, the war of the kings, and the covenant between the pieces. Genesis 12:1-17:27.

Midrash Tanchuma, Masei 11

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma, Masei 11

(Numb. 35:9–11:) “And the Lord spoke [unto Moses, saying], ‘Speak unto the Children of Israel, and say unto them, “When you cross the Jordan to the Land of Canaan, you shall provid...

DeathViolenceAdam & EveMoses

Midrash Tanchuma, Masei 12

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma, Masei 12

(Numb. 35:11:) “Where a killer may flee who has taken a life by mistake.” “By mistake,” and not on purpose. If someone goes and kills on purpose, then says, “It was by mistake that...

JudgmentMerkavahKingsViolence

Midrash Tanchuma, Eikev 4

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma, Eikev 4

All of the commandment that I command you today (Deuteronomy 8:1): This is what the verse stated (Proverbs 7:2), "Keep My commandments and live," since David said (Psalms 17:8), "G...

TorahKing DavidPsalmsTzedakah (Charity)

Midrash Tanchuma, Eikev 6

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma, Eikev 6

Another interpretation: "All of the commandment" (Deuteronomy 8:1). If you have began with a commandment, finish all of it. Why? Rabbi Yochanan said, "Anyone who began with a comma...

TorahCommandmentsJosephKing David

Midrash Tanchuma, Eikev 9

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma, Eikev 9

At that time, etc. (Deuteronomy 10:1): This is what the verse stated (Ecclesiastes 3:1), "A time and season is set for everything, for every experience under heaven." There was a t...

Adam & EveMosesSolomonHumor

Midrash Tanchuma, Eikev 11

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma, Eikev 11

That you smashed (Deuteronomy 10:2): Rabbi Akiva and Rabbi Yishmael [differed on the matter]. One said, "[God was saying,] 'Take this here from Me which you broke, Moshe.'" And one...

TorahMosesSinKings

Midrash Tanchuma, Re'eh 3

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma, Re'eh 3

Another interpretation: "See I, etc," (Deuteronomy 11:26). This is that which the verse stated (Lamentations 3:38), "Is it not at the word of the Most High, that weal and woe befal...

MosesSinaiSinNoah & Flood

Midrash Tanchuma, Re'eh 4

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma, Re'eh 4

Another interpretation: "See I" (Deuteronomy 11:26). I who have chosen goodness, see how different I am from the whole world, such that the creatures should not say, "When Moshe ca...

TorahHumorSinPrayer

Midrash Tanchuma, Re'eh 10

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma, Re'eh 10

(Deut. 14:22:) “You shall surely tithe.” This text is related (to Prov. 28:22), “An evil-eyed person (i.e., a miser) moves quickly after wealth; [and he does not know that loss wil...

TorahHumorPovertyCharity

Midrash Tanchuma, Shoftim 8

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma, Shoftim 8

(Deut. 16:19, cont.:) “You shall not take a bribe.” When the judge sets his heart on a bribe, he becomes blind to justice and he is unable to judge [a case] honestly. R. Eliezer sa...

JudgmentDivine justiceSinAdam & Eve

Midrash Tanchuma, Shoftim 11

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma, Shoftim 11

Another interpretation: "As these nations that you are about to dispossess, etc. but you not like this to you" (Deuteronomy 18:14). It is speaking about Avraham, as he saw through ...

TorahCreationWarHeaven

Midrash Tanchuma, Shoftim 14

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma, Shoftim 14

O my dove, in the cranny of the rocks (Song of Songs 2:14): This is that which is stated in the verse (Psalms 18:3), "The Lord is my rock and my fortress." Rabbi Elazar ben Pedat s...

TorahEgyptWarMoses

Midrash Tanchuma, Shoftim 18

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma, Shoftim 18

When you approach a town to attack it, [you shall offer it terms of peace]: See how great is the power of peace; as the Holy One, blessed be He, said to open with peace even to the...

DeathAdam & EveMatriarchsJoseph

Midrash Tanchuma, Ki Teitzei 3

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma, Ki Teitzei 3

“When a camp goes out against your enemies, you shall beware of everything evil” (Devarim 23:10). There should be no levity among you so that you do not incur any liability. From w...

TorahKabbalahAdam & EveCommandments

Midrash Tanchuma, Ki Teitzei 10

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma, Ki Teitzei 10

(Deut. 25:18, cont.:) And he cut off (rt.: znb) all who were lagging behind you. He smote them with a blow to the tail (rt.: znb).51The word can also denote the penis. See PR 7:3; ...

TorahWomen of the BibleTribesHumor

Midrash Tanchuma, Ki Tavo 3

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma, Ki Tavo 3

And it shall be if you truly listen (Deuteronomy 28:1): This is that which was stated in the verse (Song of Songs 1:3), "Your ointments yield a sweet fragrance, your name is like f...

TorahDivine justiceChanukahHumor

Midrash Tanchuma, Nitzavim 1

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma, Nitzavim 1

(Deut. 29:9:) “You are standing today.” This text is related (to Prov. 12:7), “The wicked are overturned (rt.: hpk) and are no more, but the house of the righteous shall stand.” Ev...

Hell/GehennaAdam & EveMosesKings

Midrash Tanchuma, Nitzavim 3

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma, Nitzavim 3

(Deut. 29:11:) “To enter into the covenant with the Lord your God....” Three covenants did the Holy One, blessed be He, make with Israel when they came out of Egypt, one when they ...

CovenantHumorAdam & EveMoses

Adam The Angel

Apocrypha 2 Enoch 30:8-11

We often think of Adam as simply the first man, made of dust. But some ancient traditions paint a far more…celestial picture. A picture of Adam as an angel. Now, before you picture...

CreationAngelsHeavenPatriarchs

Adam's Body Formed By An Angel

Apocrypha 4 Ezra 3:4

We often picture God directly shaping him from dust, but some fascinating traditions tell a slightly different story, involving heavenly helpers. The story goes that when the time ...

CreationAngelsHeavenAdam & Eve

Adam Is Taken Into Paradise

Apocrypha Vita Adae et Evae 25-29

One such story, preserved in Vita Adae et Evae (The Life of Adam and Eve), tells of a remarkable vision. It's a bit obscure, not as well-known as other heavenly journeys like Enoch...

AngelsHeavenTorahPatriarchs

The Messiah In Hell

Apocrypha Sefer ha-Zikhronot 21:1-11

We often think of Mashiach – the Messiah – as a future figure, the one who will usher in an era of peace and redemption. But what about now? Where is he? What’s he doing? Jewish tr...

CreationAngelsHeavenHell/Gehenna

Ben Sira on How God Honored Moses in the Heights

Apocrypha Ben Sira 45:6

Ben Sira chapter 45 gives us a glimpse, a whisper of what it meant for Moses and Aaron to be elevated by God. "And God honored him, and strengthened him in the heights." It begins ...

TorahWisdomHoly Land

The Priest Who Blessed Israel With God's Name

Apocrypha Ben Sira 45:19

The Book of Ben Sira, a treasure trove of wisdom literature, gives us a glimpse into this very idea, specifically through the lens of the priesthood. It speaks of one called to "mi...

TorahDivine NamesHoly LandSacrifice

Aaron's Eternal Covenant to Guard the Sanctuary

Apocrypha Ben Sira 45:27

Ben Sira, in his wisdom, reminds us of the immense task Aaron undertook. He says, "And who, in his nobility, his heart, atoned for the children of Israel." Aaron atoned. Think abou...

Noah & FloodKing DavidTorahTemple

Golyat and the King

Apocrypha Ben Sira 47:6

Not just any David, but the David. The shepherd boy who became a king, the poet who penned psalms that still resonate today. Ben Sira, in chapter 47, paints a vibrant portrait of t...

King DavidHoly LandKingsWar

Solomon's Golden Age of Wisdom and Prosperity

Apocrypha Ben Sira 47:18

Let’s journey back to the time of King Solomon, or Shlomo in Hebrew, a figure so central to Jewish history and lore. The Book of Ben Sira, a work of wisdom literature from around t...

TorahTempleWisdomHoly Land

Jubilees Retells Genesis with a Unique Spin

Apocrypha Book of Jubilees 1:10

That’s the feeling I get when I read passages like this one from the Book of Jubilees. The Book of Jubilees, sometimes called Lesser Genesis, is an ancient Jewish religious work. I...

PatriarchsHumorWisdomRebellion

The Angel of the Presence Guides Israel in the Desert

Apocrypha Book of Jubilees 1:41

Our story begins not just at the beginning of time, but with the very blueprint for it. We’re talking about the Book of Jubilees, a text that, while not part of the canonical Hebre...

CreationHeavenAngelsTorah

Sabbath — Jacob at the Dawn of Creation

Apocrypha Book of Jubilees 2:41

But the Book of Jubilees, an ancient Jewish text that expands on the stories we find in Genesis and Exodus, really emphasizes this point. It paints a picture of creation itself as ...

CreationHeavenPatriarchsTorah

Strict Sabbath Laws Forbid Drawing Water

Apocrypha Book of Jubilees 2:52

The Book of Jubilees, a fascinating text considered apocryphal by some but deeply important to others, delves into the details of how we're meant to observe sacred time. It's like ...

CreationHoly LandShabbat

Shabbat — Adam at the Dawn of Creation

Apocrypha Book of Jubilees 3:1

The Book of Jubilees, an ancient Jewish text not included in the Hebrew Bible but considered scripture by some, gives us a glimpse into a fascinating perspective. It emphasizes the...

CreationAdam & EveTorahPrayer

Adam and Eve Tended Eden for Forty Days

Apocrypha Book of Jubilees 3:25

The Book of Jubilees, a text that expands on the Torah and offers a unique perspective on biblical history, gives us a fascinating glimpse. It claims to be a divinely revealed acco...

HeavenAdam & EveTorahHoly Land

The Ancient Roots of the Feast of Weeks

Apocrypha Book of Jubilees 6:17

Where 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 text, considered part of...

Noah & FloodTorahHoly LandCovenant

Mount Sinai Studies Torah

Apocrypha Book of Jubilees 6:34

The Book of Jubilees, a fascinating text from around the 2nd century BCE, sheds some unique light on it. Jubilees focuses on calendar and law, presenting itself as a revelation giv...

TorahHoly LandHolidays

Written and Oral Law of Fifty

Apocrypha Book of Jubilees 6:48

It offers a unique perspective on the calendar, one that's surprisingly precise... and maybe a little controversial. The passage focuses on dividing time: "from the first to the se...

TorahHoly LandTimeSun and moon

Noah in the Holy Land

Apocrypha Book of Jubilees 9:1

to one of them, shall we? We find a fascinating account in the Book of Jubilees, a text considered canonical by some, like the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, but considered apocryphal ...

Holy LandNoah & FloodDivine justiceWar

Joktan's Sons Settle the Lands of Arabia

Apocrypha Book of Jubilees 10:46

That sense of belonging – or not belonging – is at the heart of a fascinating, and often overlooked, passage from the Book of Jubilees. Now, if you haven’t heard of the Book of Jub...

JosephHoly LandWritingKabbalah

Waters of Noah and the Covenant

Apocrypha Book of Jubilees 15:32

The Book of Jubilees, a fascinating text from around the second century BCE, offers a glimpse into just that. It paints a picture of a world teeming with angels, a world where the ...

Noah & FloodTorahMiraclesHoly Land

Angels Watched the Binding of Isaac From Heaven

Apocrypha Book of Jubilees 18:11

We all know the story of Abraham and Isaac, but there are so many layers, so many whispers of other perspectives woven into that intense moment. Now, the Book of Jubilees is an anc...

HeavenPatriarchsTemple

Isaac Passes the Eternal Blessing to Jacob

Apocrypha Book of Jubilees 19:30

Specifically, we're going to look at chapter 19 and the passing of the torch, or rather, the blessing, from Isaac to Jacob. Imagine the scene: Isaac, nearing the end of his days, r...

CreationHeavenAdam & EveNoah & Flood

Isaac Blesses Jacob With the Dew of Heaven

Apocrypha Book of Jubilees 19:33

We're going to peek into the Book of Jubilees, a text considered scripture by some, a fascinating piece of Jewish history by others. It’s a retelling of Genesis and Exodus with som...

CreationHeavenAdam & EveNoah & Flood

Blessing of Jacob

Apocrypha Book of Jubilees 23:1

Think of it as a behind-the-scenes look at some of our most beloved stories. Our scene: Jacob, nearing the end of his long and eventful life. The text tells us, "And he placed two ...

PatriarchsJacobMusic & SongSin

Esau — Edom and the Patriarchs

Apocrypha Book of Jubilees 24:11

The Book of Jubilees, a fascinating text offering a unique perspective on biblical narratives, tells a story about just such a moment – the tale of Esau selling his birthright to J...

PatriarchsJosephEgypt

Isaac Digs Wells and the Shepherds Quarrel

Apocrypha Book of Jubilees 24:29

It's a retelling and expansion of stories we find in Genesis, offering a slightly different perspective. Our focus? Chapter 24. It's a short, sharp account of Isaac and his struggl...

PatriarchsWarHumorDivine justice

Rebecca at the Dawn of Creation

Apocrypha Book of Jubilees 25:1

The Book of Jubilees, an ancient Jewish text, offers a glimpse into that very notion, sometimes with chilling detail. Jubilees, which some consider to be part of the Pseudepigrapha...

CreationPatriarchsExileJudgment

Jacob Vows to Marry Within His Father's Kindred

Apocrypha Book of Jubilees 25:13

to a fascinating passage from the Book of Jubilees, a text considered sacred by some, a valuable historical document by others. In it, we hear Jacob, later to be known as Israel, w...

PatriarchsSoulJacobHumor

Rebecca's Hands Rest on Jacob's Head in Blessing

Apocrypha Book of Jubilees 25:19

A mother, hands placed gently on her child's head, bestowing not just love, but something…more. Something divinely inspired. We find a beautiful instance of this in the Book of Jub...

PatriarchsSoulPrayer