1,204 related texts · Page 19 of 26
Hiram, king of Tyre made seven artificial heavens placed on pillars of iron, first of glass, sun, moon and stars. Second of iron, with a lake of water in it; third of tin with prec...
Plural word of unknown derivation used in the Hebrew Bible to denote the primitive Semitic house-gods whose cult had been handed down to historical times from the earlier period of...
And when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunders were ceased (Exod. 9:34). Such is the way of the wicked: whenever they are in trouble, they humiliate themselves, b...
It’s all about humility, devotion, and a legacy that blossoms through generations. Ben Sira celebrates those judges of old, "each man by his name, every one who didn't self-glorify...
The Book of Jubilees, a fascinating text from around the 2nd century BCE, speaks to that very feeling. It paints a picture of a future where the people stray from the path, and the...
We all know about the plagues, the parting of the Red Sea, and the giving of the Ten Commandments. But what about the details that fill in the cracks, the "behind-the-scenes" momen...
Let’s journey back to ancient Egypt, to the court of Ptolemy II Philadelphus, a king with a thirst for knowledge and a library that was the envy of the ancient world. He was determ...
The Book of Maccabees I, a historical text filled with the drama and fervor of the Maccabean revolt, recounts a pivotal moment. After years of struggle against the Seleucid Empire ...
That's the unsettling beginning of the story of Susanna, a tale found in the Book of Daniel, specifically in what's often called "The Book of Susanna." The scene is set in the hous...
After Abram's bold declaration against idol worship (in the previous chapter), King Nimrod isn't too pleased. According to the Book of Jasher, Nimrod had Abram thrown into prison f...
4QInstruction (Musar LeMevin, מוסר למבין, meaning "Instruction for the Understanding One") is one of the longest and most philosophically sophisticated texts found at Qumran. Prese...
When Pharaoh sought counsel on what to do about the growing Israelite population, he summoned three men: Reuel the Midianite, Job, and Balaam of Petor. Their answers determined the...
From the Exodus to the destruction of the First Temple, Israel was exiled eight times. According to the Chronicles of Jerahmeel, a 12th-century Hebrew chronicle translated by Moses...
Isaiah son of Amos saw all five kinds of punishment in Gehinnom (the place of spiritual purification after death). According to the Chronicles of Jerahmeel, a 12th-century Hebrew c...
The traditional texts give us some fascinating, and sometimes surprising, details. So, picture this: Jacob, having blessed each of his sons individually, gathers them all together ...
We often picture it as a place of endless leisure, but the Jewish tradition paints a more nuanced picture. It wasn't just about relaxation; it was about responsibility, connection,...
Our tale begins with angels leaving Abraham at midday, their wings carrying them towards Sodom as evening approached. Now, usually, angels are all about speed. They deliver their m...
They were terrified. "How long shall we fight with these devils?" they cried. "Let us return to our land, lest they exterminate us root and branch, without leaving a remnant." Can ...
The story of Jacob at Beth-el is one of those moments. After receiving a profound revelation from God, what did Jacob do? He didn't just stand there awestruck. He acted. He set up ...
The Ishmaelite merchants, thinking they've scored a good deal, are trekking across the desert. Everything seems normal enough. Then… BAM! Suddenly, darkness descends. Not just a li...
She is brought, against her will, before a court of law. This isn't just any court, mind you. Seated as judges are none other than Isaac, Jacob, and Judah. Yes, those Isaac, Jacob,...
The scene is set: Tamar is about to be executed. Accused of infidelity, she desperately searches for the evidence that could prove her innocence – three pledges she had received fr...
The stakes? Nothing less than the fate of Egypt, and the freedom of his own people. According to Legends of the Jews, as retold by Ginzberg, the situation had reached a fever pitch...
That’s kind of what happened when Joseph and his brothers finally made peace in Egypt. Remember the story? Joseph, sold into slavery by his jealous brothers, rises to power in Egyp...
We find ourselves in the Book of Genesis, with Jacob – also known as Israel – nearing the end of his life. He's ready to bestow blessings upon his grandsons, the sons of Joseph: Ep...
The ancient texts offer some fascinating glimpses. Imagine this: the young Moses, raised in Pharaoh's court, becomes a student. But not just any student. According to Legends of th...
Not for your strength, but for your character. That's the story of Moses, as he became king of Ethiopia. It's a wild tale, isn’t it? We often think of Moses leading the Israelites ...
We know the story of the Exodus, the parting of the Red Sea, and the giving of the Torah at Sinai. But what about those missing years? Jewish tradition is filled with fascinating s...
to a fascinating moment in the life of Moses, a moment tinged with both humility and a hint of the miraculous. You remember Moses. The future leader, still on the run after that… i...
Not just inconvenienced, but utterly, hopelessly stuck. Thrown into a pit, forgotten, left to rot. That's what happened to Moses, according to some fascinating threads in the tapes...
Maybe you're facing a challenge that seems insurmountable, a situation where you feel utterly trapped. Well, let me tell you a story about a literal pit and how someone climbed out...
Well, according to legend, Moses actually got pretty close. The stories tell us that Moses, yearning for a deeper connection with the divine, pleaded with God to reveal His Great a...
Even after God revealed Himself in the burning bush, even after all the reassurances, Moses still hesitated. "But," he argued, "they will not believe me! They won't listen. They'll...
It's more than just a ritual; it's a declaration of independence. God wouldn’t have redeemed Israel, wouldn’t have pulled them out of Egypt, if they hadn’t turned away from idol wo...
According to Legends of the Jews, by Louis Ginzberg, Moses, overwhelmed, turned to God in desperation. "O Lord of the world!" he cried, comparing himself to a careless shepherd who...
Jewish tradition has some fascinating answers, and they often involve celestial dramas playing out behind the scenes. Take the story of the Exodus, the moment when the Israelites w...
We all know the story: the Israelites, enslaved in Egypt, are finally led to freedom by Moses. But the Bible only gives us so much detail. What about the heavenly host? Were they j...
We all know the story: the Israelites are freed, the waters part, the Egyptians pursue, the waters crash. End of story. Well, not quite. According to the Legends of the Jews, a mon...
Why "My Miracle?" Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary) tells us it’s because the miracle God wrought against Amalek wasn't just for Israel, but, in a way, for God too. The Sa...
Jewish tradition is full of stories that suggest it does. And one of the most fascinating, and perhaps surprising, examples comes from the story of the Rechabites. These weren't Is...
According to Legends of the Jews, a monumental work compiled by Louis Ginzberg, the moment the Israelites said "Yea" to the first commandment, something shifted. God wasn't just la...
And it's a question that Moses, our great leader, dared to ask. Even after witnessing incredible miracles, after leading the Israelites out of Egypt, after receiving the Torah itse...
He was the master craftsman chosen to bring the Tabernacle to life. A true artist, filled "with the spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kind...
It wasn’t just about golden walls and intricate carvings; according to tradition, miracles pulsed within its very structure. Imagine this: When the Cherubim, those powerful angelic...
Those weren't just pretty gems; they were powerful symbols, each one connected to a tribe of Israel and radiating its unique essence. Today, let's focus on two of those stones, and...
And when we look at the story of Joseph, the biblical hero, we find a fascinating answer. Joseph, sold into slavery in Egypt, faces temptation at every turn. But he remains steadfa...
That’s pressure! We read in Legends of the Jews (Ginzberg) that Moses reached his breaking point. He just couldn't bear the burden of the people alone any longer. And what was God'...
The Israelites certainly did. And their story, as told in the Legends of the Jews, offers a fascinating, and sometimes unsettling, glimpse into divine justice and, ultimately, rede...
