What is written of the fourth kingdom (Aram)

Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael Mekhilta Tractate Vayehi Beshalach 2:22

Curated by The Jewish Mythology Team · Published January 8, 2025

What is written of the fourth kingdom (Aram)? (Ibid. 23) "This is what he said: The fourth beast: There will be a fourth kingdom upon the earth which will be different from all the kingdoms; it will devour the whole earth, tread it down and crush it." We thus learn that every nation that had dominion over Israel ruled from one end of the world to the other, because of the honor of Israel. Variantly (Exodus 14:5) "And the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was reversed against the people. And they said: What is this that we did in sending Israel away from serving us?" They said to him: Would we not have gained much good from them?

Themes

Moses Holy Land Kings

Biblical References

Exodus 14:5

Continue Reading

Ginzberg Moses Threatens War if Sihon Blocks the King's Highway The Israelites, fresh out of Egypt, needed to cross Sihon's land. Moses, ever the diplomat, sent a message. He promised ... Ginzberg Balaam — Kingdom of Balak Balak, the King of Moab, certainly believed in the power of place. And he was desperate. Balak had a problem: the Israel... Ginzberg Joshua — Moses and the Promised Land It’s a moment packed with weight, the transfer of leadership for an entire people. – leading the Israelites after Moses?... Ginzberg Moses and the Promised Land of Joshua We get a glimpse into this transition in the Legends of the Jews, that incredible compilation of rabbinic stories and lo... Ginzberg Moses Personally Leads Joshua Out Before All Israel That's a glimpse into the story of Joshua taking over leadership from Moses. The moment had arrived. Joshua was ready, d... Kabbalah Kingdom of Mosheh The Tikkun (spiritual repair)ei Zohar, a companion volume to the Zohar—one of the central works of Kabbalah, Jewish myst... Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael Variantly — "And the heart of Pharaoh was reversed" "And the heart of Pharaoh was reversed" (Exodus 14:5). The Mekhilta reads this reversal not as a change of mind about le... Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael (Exodus 14 — 7) "and shalishim upon all of them" — "shalishim" The Torah describes Pharaoh's pursuit force with the word "shalishim" — a term the Mekhilta unpacks through three differ... Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael All woods, when they burn, their sound is not heard; but All woods, when they burn, their sound is not heard; but stubble, when it burns, it crackles and is heard. Thus did the ...