Shemot Rabbah

468 texts in Midrash Rabbah

The Waters Will Return Upon Pharaoh's Chariots

Shemot Rabbah 22:2

Pharaoh's army bearing down, water as far as the eye could see. What do you do? The Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, paints a vivid pi...

AngelsJosephMosesKing David

Egypt — Job at the Dawn of Creation

Shemot Rabbah 22:3

It all comes down to what those moments taught us about ourselves and about our relationship with God. to a fascinating passage from Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpr...

CreationNoah & FloodJosephMoses

Moses — Song at the Sea

Shemot Rabbah 23:1

to a fascinating interpretation of a familiar story – the Song at the Sea, from Exodus 15. You know, the one that starts, "Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to t...

MosesKing DavidHoly LandEgypt

Rabbi Abahu's Song

Shemot Rabbah 23:2

The ancient Israelites, fresh out of Egypt, knew that feeling all too well. We find a fascinating glimpse into this in Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on th...

CreationJosephMosesKing David

Moses Sang at the Red Sea to Atone for Past Doubt

Shemot Rabbah 23:3

Shemot Rabbah, a collection of Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary)ic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, offers a fascinating insight into this very question, focusing on...

MosesSolomonProphecyRepentance

The First Song Ever Sung From Creation Until the Sea

Shemot Rabbah 23:4

It all starts with the verse, "Then Moses…sang" (Exodus 15:1). The Rabbis connect this to (Proverbs 31:26), "She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her...

CreationAngelsAdam & EvePatriarchs

Moses Sings and the Bond Between God and Israel Endures

Shemot Rabbah 23:5

We’re diving into Shemot Rabbah today, specifically section 23, which explores the verse, “Then Moses…sang” (Exodus 15:1). But this isn’t just about a song after crossing the Sea o...

CreationHeavenPatriarchsMoses

Ten Songs From the Exodus to the Age of the Messiah

Shemot Rabbah 23:6

It's more than just "Who Knows One?" around the Passover table, I promise you that. Our Sages understood that the Exodus wasn't just a one-time event; it was a template for all fut...

JosephMosesKing DavidTorah

Who Got to Sing First After the Sea Was Split

Shemot Rabbah 23:7

The story begins, as we all know, with the parting of the Red Sea. A moment of unimaginable salvation for the Israelites, fleeing slavery in Egypt. Moses leads the people, and as t...

JosephMosesKing DavidProphecy

The Children Who Recognized God at the Red Sea First

Shemot Rabbah 23:8

Our story comes from Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus. It paints a breathtaking picture of divine intervention and the unwavering faith...

JosephMosesSolomonProphecy

God Executes Justice as Egypt Drowns in the Sea

Shemot Rabbah 23:9

That feeling, that's what we're diving into today, looking at a passage from Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus. The passage opens with a...

Hell/GehennaJosephMosesKing David

I Am Dark but Beautiful Says Israel After the Sea

Shemot Rabbah 23:10

And they found a surprising way to express it. In Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, we find a fascinating reading of the verse, "Then M...

MosesKing DavidSolomonTorah

Gift of Prophecy of Isaiah

Shemot Rabbah 23:11

to a fascinating idea from Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus. It touches on something really fundamental: the way we express joy and sor...

King DavidProphecyHoly LandExile

The Song at the Sea as a Declaration of Purity

Shemot Rabbah 23:12

Shemot Rabbah, a rich collection of Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary)ic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, offers a powerful reading of the verse "Then Moses…sang [thi...

CreationHell/GehennaNoah & FloodJoseph

Why Everything in Creation Tries to Exalt Itself

Shemot Rabbah 23:13

It’s a concept that’s wrestled with beautifully in Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus. The verse "I will sing to the Lord, for He is exal...

HeavenMosesSolomonJob

God's Mare in Pharaoh's Chariots and Its Meaning

Shemot Rabbah 23:14

It all starts with the verse, "For He is exalted." The Rabbis ask, what does that truly mean? Rabbi Pappos offers a beautiful and subtle reading of the verse from (Song of Songs 1:...

AngelsMosesKing DavidSolomon

The Horse and His Rider Cast Into the Sea

Shemot Rabbah 23:15

We know the story: the Israelites trapped, the Egyptians bearing down, then – miraculously – the waters split, a path appears, and they escape to freedom. But what about the unseen...

AngelsMosesProphecyMysticism

Three Days Without Water in the Wilderness of Shur

Shemot Rabbah 24:1

The Israelites, fresh from their miraculous escape from Egypt, certainly did. The book of Exodus tells us, "Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went out to the wilderness of...

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Moses and the Dreamer of Okay

Shemot Rabbah 24:2

Rabbi Yehuda tells us that the Israelites reasoned, "The Holy One, blessed be He, only took us out of Egypt for five things!" What were those five things? First, to give us the plu...

JosephMosesPrayerHoly Land

Moses — Yitro and the Fires of Gehenna

Shemot Rabbah 24:3

It might seem a little... unflattering at first glance. But as with so many things in our tradition, there's a depth and beauty to be found when we dig a little deeper. Shemot Rabb...

Hell/GehennaJosephMosesKing David

The Wilderness of Shur and What Its Name Reveals

Shemot Rabbah 24:4

We often gloss over place names, assuming they're just… well, places. But sometimes, they're so much more. Take, for example, the phrase "the wilderness of Shur," which pops up in ...

CreationAdam & EvePatriarchsJoseph

God Rains Down Bread From Heaven for Israel

Shemot Rabbah 25:1

We often look around us, to the earth, to other people. But Jewish tradition suggests a different source, a higher source: the heavens. Think about the manna, that miraculous bread...

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Rabbi Eliezer's Miracle

Shemot Rabbah 25:2

to a fascinating passage from Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, that really gets to the heart of this question. Rabbi Simon, quoting Ra...

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God Gives Like a Sponge Opened by Hand

Shemot Rabbah 25:3

We dole things out with a closed fist, hesitant, as if we're afraid of running out. But what about the Divine? Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book o...

MosesKing DavidJobProphecy

Moses and the Heavenly Realms of Egypt

Shemot Rabbah 25:4

The story starts with a grumble. "The entire congregation of the children of Israel complained" (Exodus 16:2). They were wandering in the desert, fresh out of Egypt, and their port...

HeavenJosephMosesProphecy

Manna from Heaven of Abraham

Shemot Rabbah 25:5

Jewish tradition says a resounding "YES!" And one of the most beautiful examples of this is found in the stories surrounding the manna, that miraculous bread from heaven that susta...

CreationAngelsPatriarchsMoses

There Is None Like God Among All the Powers

Shemot Rabbah 25:6

Shemot Rabbah, a classic collection of Midrash on the book of Exodus, tackles this very question, and the answers are, frankly, . It starts with a verse from Psalms: "There is none...

CreationMosesKing DavidProphecy

Manna as Bread from Heaven Earned Through Torah

Shemot Rabbah 25:7

The passage begins by linking the manna, that miraculous bread from heaven, to a verse in Proverbs (9:5): "Come, partake of my bread, and drink of the wine I have mixed." What's th...

CreationHeavenAdam & EveNoah & Flood

Jacob and Creation of Eden

Shemot Rabbah 25:8

The ancient rabbis felt that way too, and they found profound hope in the story of the Exodus. In Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, we ...

CreationHeavenAdam & EvePatriarchs

Go Out and Gather Each Day's Portion of Manna

Shemot Rabbah 25:9

It’s not just about receiving, but about the giving, the engagement, the doing. to a fascinating passage from Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of...

MosesKing DavidSolomonTorah

The Israelites Who Hoarded Manna Against God's Word

Shemot Rabbah 25:10

Remember the manna, that miraculous bread from heaven? God instructed the Israelites to gather only what they needed for each day, except on Friday, when they were to collect a dou...

MosesRepentanceMiraclesEgypt

See That God Has Given You the Shabbat

Shemot Rabbah 25:11

The Torah tells us in Exodus (16:29), "See that the Lord has given you the Shabbat (the Sabbath); therefore, He gives you on the sixth day bread for two days. Remain each man where...

CreationMosesMiraclesHoly Land

One Perfect Shabbat Could Bring the Messiah

Shemot Rabbah 25:12

Rabbi Levi makes a staggering claim in Shemot Rabbah: a single, perfectly observed Shabbat (the Sabbath) could bring about the Messiah. He says, “If Israel observes Shabbat properl...

HeavenPatriarchsMosesKing David

Amalek in Battle

Shemot Rabbah 26:1

The Jewish people know that feeling all too well. In fact, there's a fascinating passage in Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, that uses...

MosesJobHoly LandExile

Israel Complains of Thirst and God Provides Water

Shemot Rabbah 26:2

The Israelites certainly did. In the book of Exodus, right after the incredible miracle of being freed from Egypt, they find themselves wandering in the desert, thirsty and complai...

Hell/GehennaJosephMosesMysticism

Why Moses Chose Joshua to Fight Against Amalek

Shemot Rabbah 26:3

Take the story of the war against Amalek in (Exodus 17:9). Moses tells Joshua, "Choose men for us and go out and wage war with Amalek; tomorrow I will be standing on top of the hil...

CreationJosephMosesRepentance

Jethro Hears About the Exodus and Comes to Moses

Shemot Rabbah 27:1

This week, we're diving into a fascinating passage from Shemot Rabbah, a compilation of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, specifically Shemot Rabbah 27. It uses the s...

CreationPatriarchsJosephMoses

Wisdom of Yitro

Shemot Rabbah 27:2

The Book of Exodus gives us a powerful example in the story of Yitro, Moses' father-in-law. And the midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary), specifically Shemot Rabbah, offers u...

HeavenNoah & FloodMosesKing David

Yitro's Miracle

Shemot Rabbah 27:3

It’s a recurring theme in Jewish tradition, and one particularly striking example comes to us from Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus. Th...

MosesPrayerHoly LandEgypt

What Exactly Did Jethro Hear That Made Him Come

Shemot Rabbah 27:4

A single event, a powerful moment, that resonates far beyond its origin. The Book of Exodus, or Shemot in Hebrew, tells us that "Yitro heard..." (Exodus 18:1). But what exactly did...

JosephMosesKing DavidSolomon

Jethro the Stranger Who Was Welcomed Into Israel

Shemot Rabbah 27:5

The verse “Yitro…heard” (Exodus 18:1) sparks a fascinating connection to a seemingly unrelated verse from Job: “The stranger does not stay the night outside” (Job 31:32). What’s th...

CreationHeavenMosesKing David

Yitro and the Fires of Gehenna of Amalek

Shemot Rabbah 27:6

He appears in the narrative, offers Moses some crucial advice, and then… well, what do we really know about him? The Book of Exodus tells us, “Yitro heard…” (Exodus 18:1). But hear...

Hell/GehennaPatriarchsMosesKing David

How Jethro's Earlier Kindness Was Repaid With Blessing

Shemot Rabbah 27:7

It all revolves around Yitro, Moses' father-in-law. The verse we're looking at is “Yitro…heard” (Exodus 18:1), which is the start of the portion where Yitro comes to visit Moses in...

MosesSolomonHoly LandEgypt

Yitro's Journey

Shemot Rabbah 27:8

In Jewish tradition, names aren't just labels. They're packed with meaning, hinting at a person's essence, their journey, their very destiny. Take Yitro, Moses' father-in-law. He's...

PatriarchsMosesTorahEgypt

The Many Surprising Identities and Names of Jethro

Shemot Rabbah 27:9

The ancient rabbis grappled with this very idea, and their insights, preserved in Shemot Rabbah, a collection of homiletic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, offer some fascina...

Hell/GehennaPatriarchsJosephMoses

Moses Ascended to Heaven and Took the Torah Captive

Shemot Rabbah 28:1

We all know the story, but the Rabbis of the Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary), those ancient interpreters of scripture, delve into the details, revealing layers of meanin...

HeavenAngelsAdam & EvePatriarchs

Why God Spoke to Moses From the Mountain

Shemot Rabbah 28:2

And the Shemot Rabbah, a classical collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, gives us some fascinating answers. "The Lord called to him from the mountain, sayin...

Adam & EvePatriarchsMosesKing David

Why God Wanted Israel to Receive the Torah Directly

Shemot Rabbah 28:3

The Torah tells us in (Exodus 19:8), "Moses reported the statement of the people to the Lord." According to Shemot Rabbah, this moment prompted God to want to give the Torah to the...

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