3,492 related texts · Page 12 of 73
And he planted a vineyard (Gen. 9:20). Where did he obtain the shoots for the vineyard? He obtained them from the grape seeds he had brought into the ark.24See Pesikta Rabbati 23. ...
After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram (Gen. 15:1). Scripture says elsewhere in reference to this verse: He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous; He is a shiel...
Thy right hand, O Lord (Exod. 15:6). This verse indicates that the Lord’s right hand is stretched out to receive repentant sinners. Though You set a time for the generation of the ...
(Lev. 8:2) “Take Aaron and his sons.” It is written (in Prov. 3:35), “The wise shall inherit glory, but fools take up shame.” This verse functioned from the beginning of the world ...
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...
Ben Sira, in his wisdom, offers a clue: "Their wisdom the community will repeat, and their praises the assembly will recount." It's through the act of remembering, of telling and r...
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...
The ancient texts resonate with that feeling too. Take the Book of Jubilees, for instance. It paints a stark picture of a world gone wrong, a world that’s deeply, fundamentally…cor...
The Book of Jubilees, an ancient Jewish text that expands on the stories in Genesis, gives us a compelling glimpse through the example of Noah. The text tells us that Noah's "heart...
The Book of Jubilees, an ancient Jewish text that expands on the stories in Genesis, gives us a fascinating, detailed timeline of those pivotal moments. It's like having a cosmic c...
Think of it as a really old "director's cut" of the Bible. Specifically, we're looking at Jubilees 6. The passage is talking about a particular festival. What festival? Well, that’...
And in the Book of Jubilees, a fascinating text considered canonical by some but relegated to the Apocrypha by others, we find a particularly intriguing answer. : what makes a day ...
The Book of Jubilees, a text considered canonical by some but not included in the standard Hebrew Bible, gives us a peek into Noah's anxieties about the future. Specifically, Jubil...
It's a fascinating read, full of details you won't find anywhere else in the Torah. The Book of Jubilees, sometimes called Lesser Genesis, presents itself as a revelation given to ...
It’s a story of inheritance, of boundaries, and of the ancient world taking shape. The Book of Jubilees, sometimes called Lesser Genesis, isn't afraid to get specific. It paints a ...
The scene is set. God is speaking, promising judgement upon the nation that will enslave Abraham's descendants. But it doesn’t end there. There’s a promise of liberation, a return ...
And it's explored in fascinating detail in texts like the Book of Jubilees. Now, the Book of Jubilees, for those unfamiliar, is an ancient Jewish text that retells the stories from...
We're in the aftermath of a huge moment: God’s promise to Abraham. But it's not just any promise; it's a covenant. A sacred agreement. God tells Abraham, "My covenant shall I estab...
That feeling, that connection, is at the very heart of the Book of Jubilees, a text brimming with blessings, covenants, and the destiny of a people. Specifically, we're going to lo...
We find ourselves with Isaac, the son of Abraham, a man who clearly inherited not only his father's land, but also, crucially, his father's unwavering faith. The text tells us, "be...
We all know the broad strokes – the decree, the basket, the river. But have you ever stopped to consider the details, the near-miraculous chain of events that had to unfold just so...
This is the world Megillat Antiochus throws us into. The story begins with a chilling proposition, whispered amongst the advisors of King Antiochus. "Come now," they urged, "let us...
The Book of Maccabees I, specifically chapter 5, opens with a simple but loaded sentence: "Now when the nations round about heard that the altar was built and the sanctuary renewed...
It's a period marked by loss, divine warnings, and ultimately, a chance for renewal. Chapter 5 opens with a somber roll call. One by one, the righteous of the old generation pass a...
So, picture this: Jacob, after leaving his previous location, arrives in the land of Shalem, near the city of Shechem – a place in Canaan. He buys a piece of land for five shekels ...
Book of Jasher, a fascinating, albeit non-canonical, work that expands upon biblical narratives. According to Jasher, Jacob lived in Egypt for seventeen years, reaching the ripe ol...
Terah made five new gods and handed them to his son. "Sell these in the street," he said. Abraham loaded the idols onto his father's donkey and set off toward the marketplace. On t...
According to Legends of the Jews by Ginzberg, it all started with two distinct family lines: the descendants of Cain, known for their sinfulness, and the descendants of Seth, initi...
The story of Abraham, or Avraham in Hebrew, is a powerful exploration of just that. The ancient texts tell us that Abraham faced ten trials, each designed to test the depths of his...
The story of Abraham pleading for Sodom and Gomorrah, as recounted in Legends of the Jews by Ginzberg, is a powerful exploration of just that. God, seeing that the inhabitants of t...
It's a story about covenants, wells, and the surprising ways God's presence is revealed in the world. After living among the Philistines for 26 years, Abraham moves near Hebron. So...
Notice that little seam near its mouth? It’s a tiny detail, easy to miss. But according to legend, that seemingly insignificant feature has a surprisingly dramatic story behind it,...
We know the story of Noah, the ark, and the animals two-by-two. But what about Noah himself? What kind of a man was he? Jewish tradition, as always, has some fascinating things to ...
Jewish tradition sometimes paints a far more dramatic picture, one involving cosmic forces and even… a celestial custody battle! : the story of Noah's Flood isn’t just about rain, ...
Think about Noah for a second. The flood survivor, the righteous man who saved humanity and all the animals. In many ways, he was considered pious, a paragon of virtue. But accordi...
It’s a dark picture painted in the Legends of the Jews, a world where humanity had truly lost its way. According to Ginzberg's retelling, the descendants of Noah were sinking deepe...
The story goes that Nimrod, a powerful ruler in ancient times, was deeply shaken by a dream. As soon as the sun rose, he summoned his wise men and magicians, desperate to understan...
Abraham knew that feeling well. Before he was Avraham Avinu, our father Abraham, before the brit bein ha-betarim—the covenant of the pieces—he was just a man with a promise and a p...
to a story about Abraham, our patriarch, and his audacious negotiation with God over the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah. It's a story filled with compassion, courage, and a little bit ...
And the story of how he pleaded for the people of Sodom and Gomorrah is one of the most powerful examples of intercession in the entire Torah. Remember the story? God, seeing the w...
They were old when they finally had Isaac. We're talking ancient! So, naturally, people had questions. Naysayers abounded. The big question on everyone's lips was, "Can a hundred-y...
The Torah is full of moments like that, and the story of Abraham and Abimelech is a perfect example. Before Abraham finalized his covenant with Abimelech, king of the Philistines, ...
It's easy to imagine them simply receiving divine gifts, but the reality, as often told in our tradition, is far more nuanced. Take Abraham, for instance, and his quest to acquire ...
Can you imagine being the last to know? The very last? And about something so monumental, so life-altering? That was Jacob. Everyone else in his close family knew that Joseph was a...
Let's look at a moment between Jacob and Joseph, a father and son bound by love, yet separated by doubt. Jacob, nearing the end of his life in Egypt, makes a request of Joseph: to ...
Take Jacob's death, for example. It's more than just a passing in the Torah. According to the Legends of the Jews, it's a highly orchestrated event, full of meaning and significanc...
The story goes that God, wanting to leave a lasting reminder of His power for generations to come, instructed Moses to place a jar of manna—that miraculous food that sustained the ...
The ancient Israelites, fresh out of Egypt, thought they had that… but then Amalek came along. The story of Amalek is more than just a battle; it's a clash between faith and doubt,...
