2,285 related texts · Page 35 of 48
(Lev. 12:6:) “And when the days of her purification are fulfilled [for either a son or for a daughter, she shall bring a lamb in its first year for a burnt offering….]” Why does sh...
That there are eleven days between one menstrual period and another is a law from Moshe at Sinai. Its explanation is that the law transmitted to Moshe at Sinai is like this: From t...
(Numb. 3:4:) “And they had no children.” R. Jacob bar Abin said in the name of R. Aha, “If they had had children, they would have taken precedence over Eleazar and Ithamar, since w...
(Lev. 16:1:) “Now the Lord spoke unto Moses after the death [of Aaron's two sons].” This is what Elihu said (to Job 37:1), “At this also my heart trembles and leaps.” Elihu was obs...
The bull was due to the merit of Abraham of whom it is stated (in Gen. 18:7), “Then Abraham ran unto the herd [...] (for a calf to feed his heavenly visitors).”59Lev. R. 17:9; PRK ...
(Lev. 22:29:) “And when you sacrifice an offering of thanksgiving to the Lord.” R. Pinhas, R. Levi, and R. Johanan said in the name of R. Menahem of Galilee, “In the future to come...
(Lev. 22:27), “And from the eighth day on [it shall be acceptable for an offering by fire to the Lord].” So that your [evil] drive not lead you astray by saying that there is eatin...
Another interpretation (of Lev. 27:2), “When anyone explicitly vows”: The nations say (in (Micah 6:6)-7), “With what shall I come before the Lord, bow myself before God on high, […...
Another interpretation (of Numb. 6:23-24), “Thus shall you bless the Children of Israel: The Lord bless you and keep you.” “Bless you,” with wealth; “and keep you,” so that may do ...
(Numb. 16:1:) “Now Korah […] took.” [What] he took [was] his prayer shawl and he went to get counsel from his wife.11Numb. R. 18:4. When the Holy One, blessed be He, said (in Numb....
(Numb. 16:15, cont.:) “And he said unto the Lord, ‘Pay no attention unto their meal offering.’” Do not accept them in repentance.32Numb. R. 18:10, cont. Scripture should have said,...
(Numb. 23:4:) “Then God encountered Balaam.” The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him, “You evil man! What are you doing?” (Ibid., cont.:) “And [Balaam] said unto him, ‘I have prep...
(Numb. 25:11) “Phinehas ben Elazar […].” What reason did the Holy One, blessed be He, have for tracing the lineage of Phinehas after this act (of slaying Zimri in Numb. 25:8)?1Numb...
"But with a lot, etc." (Numbers 26:55). This is [the meaning of] that which is stated (Proverbs 18:18), "The lot puts an end to strife." Since a sign was written for each and every...
And you see horse and chariot (Deuteronomy 20:1): And it is stated (Exodus 15:19), "For when the horse of Pharaoh." And why did it not state, "horses and riders?" Rather [it is] be...
(Deut. 26:16:) “This day the Lord your God is commanding you to perform.” This text is related (to Ps. 95:6), “Come, let us bow down and bend, let us kneel before the Lord our Make...
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 ...
Jewish tradition offers some powerful and moving images of what happens to the souls of the righteous after death. And some of these images paint a picture of them continuing to fi...
We all do it. But what if that cover is completely misleading? What if the real treasure lies hidden, masked by appearances? Ben Sira, that wise sage whose words dance between scri...
Ben Sira, in his wisdom, points us to figures who possessed just such insight. He begins with someone who, "with a great spirit… saw the end, and comforted the mourners of Zion." W...
Let’s talk about a figure who, according to ancient texts, literally built the foundations of his community's safety and spiritual life. The Book of Ben Sira, a work of wisdom lite...
It’s a question that echoes through millennia, a yearning woven into the very fabric of Jewish tradition. And it’s a theme that resonates powerfully in the Book of Jubilees. Imagin...
Let’s delve into a fascinating glimpse from the Book of Jubilees, a text that offers a unique perspective on early Jewish thought and law. It’s a perspective that sheds light on id...
The Book of Jubilees, sometimes called Lesser Genesis, is an ancient Jewish religious work of 2nd century BC origin. It retells parts of Genesis and Exodus, but with a unique spin,...
It paints a vivid picture of Abraham’s arrival and his immediate actions. Imagine this: Abraham, having journeyed from Ur of the Chaldees – a long and arduous trek, no doubt – fina...
We often trace them back to the Torah, to Moses at Sinai. But what if some of those traditions, the feel of them, actually predate the Torah itself? to the Book of Jubilees, a fasc...
We're talking about Abraham, and his son, Isaac. Specifically, when Isaac was weaned. Now, weaning might not seem like cause for a huge shindig today, but in ancient times, it was ...
Like one wrong step and… well, you know. In the Book of Jubilees, we find this intense father-to-son talk that feels exactly like that—a guide to staying on that path. It’s like a ...
Our focus today is on Jacob, later to be named Israel, and a very specific moment in his journey. The text places him at the "Well of the Oath" – Beersheba in Hebrew – in a very pa...
The Book of Jubilees, for those unfamiliar, is an ancient Jewish text that retells stories from Genesis and Exodus, but with a unique spin, adding details and interpretations not f...
The Book of Jubilees, a text from around the 2nd century BCE, offers a pretty stark perspective. It dives deep into the laws and history of Israel, and it doesn’t shy away from lay...
That’s where Jacob found himself when he heard the news – unbelievable news – that his beloved son, Joseph, was not only alive but thriving in Egypt. Can you imagine the scene? His...
It's considered apocryphal by some, pseudepigraphal by others (meaning, falsely attributed to a biblical figure), but no matter what you call it, it's a fascinating window into a w...
That’s exactly where the people of Judea found themselves in the Book of Judith. Imagine this: You’ve just returned from exile, painstakingly rebuilt your temple, and rededicated t...
We’re not talking about a casual prayer here. The situation is dire. Holfernes, the general of Nebuchadnezzar's army, is poised to crush Israel. The people know they're in deep tro...
We celebrate the victory, of course. But what about the practicalities? The aftermath? Well, the Book of Judith gives us a glimpse. The story's climax—Judith's daring assassination...
Our story begins with Tobi. He’s in exile in Nineveh, in Assyria. And right away, he’s calling out to God: “Remember me, my God, for good.” He’s not just asking for a favor; he’s r...
It’s a story filled with diplomacy, royal patronage, and a little bit of legend. It all starts with a king – Ptolemy Philadelphus, ruler of Egypt back in the 3rd century BCE. He wa...
Our story comes to us from the Letter of Aristeas, a fascinating historical text. Think of it as a first-hand account – or at least, a very cleverly written piece of ancient PR – d...
This letter, purportedly written by a Greek official named Aristeas, gives us a glimpse into the creation of the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible. But amidst t...
Within its pages, we find a glimpse of the artistry involved in constructing the vessels of the Temple. One small detail in particular catches our eye, an ornate foot that supports...
It's not just about the bling, you know. It's about the dedication, the artistry, the sheer audacity of the project. Take, for instance, the story told in the Letter of Aristeas. W...
It’s a fascinating document, purporting to be written by a Greek official named Aristeas to his brother Philocrates. In it, he describes the process of commissioning the translatio...
There are so many fascinating tales tucked away in Jewish tradition, just waiting to be discovered.It’s a lesser-known account of the events surrounding Hanukkah, offering a unique...
It puts us right there in the room as Antiochus, the king, lays out his case against the Jews to his inner circle. Imagine the scene: opulent, tense, the air thick with anticipatio...
The story of Megillat Antiochus throws us right into that pressure cooker. It's a relatively short scroll, considered by some to be a minor megillah, telling the story of the Macca...
Nicanor, a real thorn in the side of the Jewish people, is looking to make an example of Yoḥanan. But Yoḥanan is no fool. He knows he's walking a tightrope. According to Megillat A...
The Temple desecrated, the brave Maccabees rising up. But what about the moments? to a less-known, but super fascinating, text called Megillat Antiochus. It’s an ancient account, w...
