Parshat Shoftim

3,050 related texts · Page 49 of 64

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

Miriam and Moses of Cushite

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 7:16

Isn't it fascinating how language can be so fluid, so open to interpretation? The Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary) starts with a rather stark statement: "Speak differentl...

MosesProphecyHoly LandWomen of the Bible

Gog and the Patriarchs

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 8:6

Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Psalms, offers a fascinating glimpse into this very idea, particularly in its eighth section. Our journey ...

PatriarchsProphecyHoly LandJudgment

Why God Hides the Reward for Doing Good

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 9:2

Why we don't have all the answers, especially when it comes to the big questions like, "What's the ultimate reward for doing good?" Midrash Tehillim 9, a beautiful exploration with...

MosesKing DavidSolomonDaniel

David Calls on Heaven's Warriors for Help

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 9:5

And it’s in his words, preserved in the Book of Psalms, that we often find solace and, perhaps surprisingly, a roadmap through those very times.Specifically, we're looking at Midra...

HeavenAngelsKing DavidTorah

Constantine Receives the Torah

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 9:9

The ancient rabbis certainly did. Midrash Tehillim, a fascinating collection of interpretations on the Book of Psalms, wrestles with this very idea. (Psalm 9:6), "The enemy's sword...

TorahProphecyWisdomHoly Land

Heavenly Hosts Above of Isaiah

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 10:2

This feeling, this sense of divine distance, is at the heart of Midrash Tehillim 10, a powerful exploration of our relationship with the Divine. The midrash, a form of Jewish bibli...

HeavenProphecyShekhinah

Elijah's Fire and the Promise of Future Prophecy

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 10:8

It’s a question that’s plagued humanity for ages, and Midrash Tehillim 10 grapples with it in a way that’s both challenging and ultimately hopeful. The midrash (rabbinic interpreti...

PatriarchsElijahDanielTemple

Death of David

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 13:7

King David knew that feeling well. Psalm 13, a cry for help, is raw with that vulnerability: "Lord, my God, look upon me and enlighten my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death..." ...

JosephKing DavidSolomonTorah

Why the Heart and Kidneys Counsel the Soul

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 14:1

The ancient rabbis certainly did. In Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic teachings on the Book of Psalms, we find a fascinating exploration of the human heart and its relati...

King DavidSolomonDanielProphecy

Ishmael — Esau at the Dawn of Creation

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 14:2

It turns out, you're in good company. Or, perhaps, bad company. Midrash Tehillim, a fascinating collection of interpretations on the Book of Psalms, dives deep into the hidden thou...

CreationHeavenPatriarchsDaniel

Wisdom of Nabal

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 14:4

Take Nabal, from the Book of Samuel. His name alone, seemingly simple, becomes a window into understanding his nature. But what does Nabal mean? Midrash Tehillim, a collection of i...

PatriarchsSolomonProphecyHoly Land

When Israel Forgot the Meaning of Their Own Bread

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 14:5

It poses a fascinating question: Did everyone in the nation really know they were eating bread? I know, it sounds strange. But it's not about the physical act of eating, is it? It'...

ProphecyHoly LandDivine justiceAdam & Eve

Judah Awaits the Messiah

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 14:6

The ancient rabbis wrestled with fear too. They found layers of meaning in the words of Psalm 14, specifically the phrase, "There they feared with fear...there was no fear." (Psalm...

MessiahProphecyHoly Land

Yaakov's Transgression

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 14:8

After all, they each played such pivotal roles in our history. But Midrash Tehillim, in its unique way, actually tackles this very idea. The Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commenta...

PatriarchsMessiahProphecyHoly Land

Rabbi Simon in David's Court

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 15:1

That feeling, that tension, is ancient. And it echoes in the verses of Psalms, specifically in Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic interpretations of the Book of Psalms. We ...

King DavidProphecyHoly Land

Abraham and Creation of Joseph

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 15:4

The 15th chapter of Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic teachings on the Book of Psalms, offers a fascinating exploration of just that. It's not a simple checklist, but a ta...

CreationPatriarchsJosephMoses

David's Desperate Plea When Hope Seemed Lost

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 17:8

The ancient Jewish texts resonate deeply with this feeling, offering glimpses into moments where even David, the legendary king, felt overwhelmed. to a fascinating passage from Mid...

HeavenKing DavidDanielProphecy

When Angels Surrounded David in His Darkest Hour

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 17:9

The verse we're focusing on is "Arise, O Lord." It's a plea, a call to action. But according to the Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary), it's also a reminder. A reminder of ...

CreationHeavenAngelsPatriarchs

David Before the Altar

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 17:10

It's not just about good versus evil. Sometimes it's about who gets to wield power, and where that power truly comes from. Midrash Tehillim, a fascinating collection of interpretat...

King DavidDanielEstherTemple

Rabbi Shimon and the Lawgiver

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 17:11

But they’re woven into the very fabric of Jewish thought, and they surface in unexpected places, like in the Midrash Tehillim. The Midrash Tehillim, a collection of homiletical int...

MosesKing DavidTorahMessiah

David and the Heavenly Realms of Presence

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 17:12

Midrash Tehillim, an ancient collection of interpretations on the Book of Psalms, offers a powerful, almost startling answer: tzedakah, charity. But not just any kind of giving. It...

HeavenKing DavidProphecyShekhinah

The Righteous Cry That Pierced Through Heaven

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 17:15

The text opens with a discussion of "rana," which can be translated as a cry or supplication. But it's not just any cry; it's a cry of righteousness. The Midrash (rabbinic interpre...

CreationHeavenHell/GehennaAngels

How Repentance Transformed David After His Sin

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 18:3

The ancient texts offer some pretty fascinating clues, particularly in how they describe the transformation that comes with repentance. Take Midrash Tehillim, for example, a collec...

CreationPatriarchsMosesKing David

The Demons That Haunted Adam and David

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 18:9

The ancient rabbis certainly understood that feeling. They saw it reflected in the words of King David, in the 18th Psalm, and explored it deeply in Midrash Tehillim, a collection ...

CreationHell/GehennaDemonsAdam & Eve

Isaac — Trial of Abraham

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 18:25

The Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary) starts with a powerful statement: "God's way is perfect." And it connects this perfection to Abraham, pointing to the verse in Genesi...

CreationPatriarchsMatriarchsKing David

Torah, Rain, and Light as Three Divine Gifts

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 18:28

Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic teachings on the Book of Psalms, opens up this very question. It tells us that the Holy One gifted the world no less than three core elem...

CreationHeavenMosesTorah

Torah as Medicine for Both Body and Soul

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 19:13

Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic teachings on the Book of Psalms, offers a beautiful interpretation of (Psalm 19:9), "The precepts of the LORD are straightforward." But w...

SolomonTorahProphecySoul

The Awesome Fear of God That Moses Experienced

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 19:14

Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic teachings on the Book of Psalms, delves into this very concept, specifically focusing on the verse, "The awe of the LORD is pure" (Psalm ...

MosesTorahProphecyDivine Names

Messiah and David of Jesse

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 21:1

It’s a question that’s been wrestled with for centuries, and Jewish tradition offers some surprising answers. Let’s delve into a fascinating passage from Midrash Tehillim, a collec...

King DavidTorahMessiahProphecy

The Lord Is My Shepherd and I Shall Not Want

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 23:1

That’s the feeling at the heart of Psalm 23, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” But there’s so much more to this familiar verse than meets the eye. Midrash Tehillim, a co...

MosesKing DavidSolomonTorah

God Prepared a Table of Manna in the Wilderness

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 23:6

"He prepares a table before me." What does that even mean in the context of a comforting psalm? Midrash Tehillim connects this to the manna, that miraculous food that sustained the...

PatriarchsMatriarchsMosesKing David

David Beyond the Firmament

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 24:2

The ancient rabbis grappled with this feeling too, especially when thinking about our relationship with the land and with God. Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic interpreta...

HeavenKing DavidProphecySoul

When Moses Begged God to Reveal His Merciful Ways

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 25:6

Even Moses, the great lawgiver himself, felt that way. In Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Psalms, we find a fascinating glimpse into Moses...

HeavenMosesKing DavidTorah

Abraham as the Ultimate Model of Piety and Fear of God

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 25:11

He's not just a character in a story; he's a blueprint, a model for living a life of faith and devotion. But how do we even begin to grasp the depth of his significance? Midrash Te...

CreationHeavenPatriarchsProphecy

The Secret of God Revealed Only to the Faithful

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 25:14

Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic teachings on the Book of Psalms, offers a fascinating perspective. It tells us, "The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him." But ...

MosesProphecyMysticismSinai

The One Thing David Asked of God Above All Else

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 27:4

Midrash Tehillim, an ancient collection of interpretations on the Book of Psalms, grapples with this very idea. It tells a story about someone who posed this question directly. Rab...

King DavidSolomonProphecyHoly Land

Elijah Finds Refuge at the Gates of the Temple

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 27:6

There’s this beautiful passage in Midrash Tehillim (Commentary on Psalms), specifically on Psalm 27, that offers a powerful image of refuge. It says, "For He will hide me in His ta...

ElijahTempleProphecyRepentance

Nebuchadnezzar — Isaiah and the Ark

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 28:2

The ancient rabbis felt that way too, and they found profound meaning in even that experience. They asked: how do we find God, even when we're being humbled? The Midrash Tehillim, ...

Noah & FloodPatriarchsMosesSolomon

Who Are the Sons of the Mighty in Psalm 29

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 29:1

Specifically, we're diving into Psalm 29 today. The psalm begins, "Give to the Lord, O sons of the mighty, give to the Lord glory and strength." But who are these "sons of the migh...

CreationPatriarchsMosesKing David

David Dedicates His Heart to the Future Temple

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 30:1

Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Psalms, dives deep into this idea. In one particular passage (Midrash Tehillim 30), it explores the connec...

PatriarchsKing DavidTorahTemple

How God Heals Those Who Descend into Darkness

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 30:3

to one particularly beautiful and comforting perspective from Midrash Tehillim, specifically Midrash Tehillim 30, connected to Psalm 30. The verse we're looking at is (Psalm 149:5)...

King DavidSolomonTorahTemple

The Power of Trusting God in Uncertain Times

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 31:1

Midrash Tehillim, for those unfamiliar, is a collection of rabbinic commentaries on the Book of Psalms, drawing out deeper meanings and connecting the verses to other parts of the ...

CreationHell/GehennaAngelsMoses

Isaiah — Moses and the Patriarchs

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 31:2

The verse that kicks it all off is from (Psalm 71:1): "In you, O Lord, I have taken refuge. Let me never be put to shame." But the midrash, the interpretive story, doesn't just tak...

PatriarchsMosesKing DavidMessiah

Jacob and Creation of Sinai

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 31:4

It’s a question that’s been wrestled with for centuries, and the Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic teachings on the Book of Psalms, offers some truly fascinating, and at t...

CreationHeavenHell/GehennaAdam & Eve

How David's Soul Connected to Moses's Prophecy

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 35:1

The ancient rabbis certainly understood that feeling. They explored it deeply in their interpretations of the Psalms, particularly in Midrash Tehillim, a collection of stories and ...

MosesKing DavidTorahProphecy

David Begs God to Take Up Shield and Fight

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 35:2

King David knew the feeling. He cries out to God, “Take up shield and buckler, and rise up to help me!” (Psalms 35:2). It's a powerful image. David picturing God as a warrior, arme...

AngelsKing DavidProphecyPrayer

David at the Dawn of Creation

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 39:2

We often take language for granted, but Jewish tradition teaches us that the tongue, that seemingly small and insignificant organ, wields incredible influence. And sometimes, the m...

CreationKing DavidSolomonProphecy

Elijah in Joseph's Time

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 42:5

Specifically, we're looking at Midrash Tehillim 42. It's a plea, a challenge, almost a demand, directed at God. The speaker in this Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary) begin...

JosephMosesElijahTorah