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Midrash Tanchuma, Ki Tisa 23

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tanchuma, Ki Tisa 23

Curated by The Jewish Mythology Team · Published March 15, 2026

<b>Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants (Exod. 32:13).</b> May our masters teach us: Until what time may the morning prayers be recited? Thus our masters teach us that the morning prayers may be recited until mid-day. R. Judah maintained that the morning prayers could be recited only until the fourth hour of the day.<sup class="footnote-marker">32</sup><i class="footnote">Ten o’clock.</i> What was the explanation of Judah’s opinion? R. Simeon explained it in the name of R. Joshua the son of Levi: The prayers were instituted to correspond to the sacrifices, and we are taught that the morning sacrifice could be offered only until the fourth hour.

Nothing is more beneficial than prayer. It was the three patriarchs who introduced the three prayers. Daniel, however, fixed the number of prayers that should be recited, as it is said: <i>And he kneeled upon his knees three times a day and prayed</i> (Dan. 6:11). However, he did not prescribe the hour of the day. David came and specified evening, morning, and noonday: <i>Evening, and morning, and noonday will I complain and moan</i> (Ps. 55:18). When Moses arose and sought mercy for them, the Holy One, blessed be He, said: <i>Get thee down, let Me alone</i> (Exod. 32:7, 10). When Moses realized that Divine justice demanded the extinction of Israel, he cried out: <i>Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel</i>, who instituted the three prayers.

Themes

Patriarchs Prayer

Original Sources

Midrash Tanchuma, Ki Tisa 23

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