Commandments

396 texts · Page 8 of 9

The 613 commandments of the Torah, their interpretation by the sages, and the reasons behind the divine law.

Midrash Tanchuma, Bo 12

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

And it shall be when the Lord shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanite (Exod. 13:5). (Scripture mentions) five nations though there were (in fact) seven nations.17Cf. Mekhil...

Midrash Tanchuma, Beshalach 19

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

And they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water (Exod. 15:22). Some say that the water they had taken with them, from between the rocks, was exhausted by that time. ...

Midrash Tanchuma, Yitro 3

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

18:1). Scripture says elsewhere in allusion to this verse: Thine ointments have a goodly fragrance; thy name is an ointment poured forth; therefore do the maidens love thee (Song 1...

Midrash Tanchuma, Mishpatim 7

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

It has been taught: thou shalt not hate thy brother in thy heart (Lev. 19:17). You might say that this means you must not strike him or curse him. However, since Scripture says in ...

Midrash Tanchuma, Mishpatim 10

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

The two different items that were pledged—habol tahbol.22Though Exod. 22:25 speaks only of night garments, the repetition of the word haval (havol tahbol) indicates that two differ...

Midrash Tanchuma, Mishpatim 16

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

If thou at all take thy neighbor’s garment to pledge (Exod. 22:25). The Holy One, blessed be He, declared: How guilty are your sins before Me, yet I have been patient with you. And...

Midrash Tanchuma, Tetzaveh 5

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

And thou shalt command (Exod. 27:20). Scripture states elsewhere in reference to this verse: Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair (Song 1:15). R. Akiba said: The e...

Midrash Tanchuma, Tetzaveh 12

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

And this is the thing that thou shalt do unto them (Exod. 29:1). Scripture says elsewhere in allusion to this verse: Forever, O Lord, Thy word standeth fast in heaven (Ps. 119:89)....

Midrash Tanchuma, Tetzaveh 14

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

And thou shalt make an altar to burn incense (Exod. 30:1). What do the letters in the word ketoret (“incense”) stand for? The kuf stands for kedushah (“sanctification”), tet for ta...

Midrash Tanchuma, Vayakhel 3

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

And Moses said unto the children of Israel: “See, the Lord hath called by name Bezalel” (Exod. 35:30). Scripture states elsewhere: So shalt thou find grace and favor in the sight o...

Midrash Tanchuma, Vayakhel 9

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

And he made the boards for the tabernacle of acacia-wood (Exod. 36:20). R. Tahlifa of Caesarea said: The Holy One, blessed be He, taught man correct behavior. If a man desired to b...

Midrash Tanchuma, Tzav 3

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

(Lev. 7:11:) “This is the law of the sacrifice for peace offerings.” This text is related (to Prov. 3:17), “The ways [of wisdom] are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are pea...

Midrash Tanchuma, Shmini 5

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

(Lev. 10:8-9:) “And the Lord spoke unto Aaron, [saying], ‘Drink no wine or intoxicating liquor.’” Why did He give a commandment concerning wine?13Lev. R. 12:1; cf. Numb. R. 10:2; M...

Midrash Tanchuma, Shmini 8

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

Three things Moses found difficult and the Holy One, blessed be He, showed them to him with a finger and these are them: The making of the menorah, the moon, and creeping things.35...

Midrash Tanchuma, Tazria 5

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

(Lev. 12:3:) “And on the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.” It is not written here that one lays out expenses over circumcision. See how much Israel loves ...

Midrash Tanchuma, Kedoshim 2

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

(Lev. 19:2:) “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Israel, “Before I created My world, the ministering angels praised My name through you and san...

Midrash Tanchuma, Kedoshim 3

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

(Lev. 19:2:) “Speak unto the whole congregation of the Children of Israel, and say unto them, ‘You shall be holy.’” What reason did He have to speak this parashah in an assembly?5 ...

Midrash Tanchuma, Kedoshim 5

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

(Lev. 19:2:) “You shall be holy.” Why? Because I have made you cling to My loins, as stated (in Jer. 13:11), “For as the girdle clings unto one's loins, [so I have made all the Hou...

Midrash Tanchuma, Kedoshim 6

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

(Lev. 19:2:) “You shall be holy.” R. Pinhas bar Hama the Priest said that R. Reuben said, “What is the meaning of that which is written (in Ezek. 3:12), ‘and I heard after me?’14Th...

Midrash Tanchuma, Kedoshim 14

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

(Lev. 19:23:) “And plant [any tree for food], you shall count (rt.: 'rl) [its fruit] as forbidden (literally, as foreskin, rt.: 'rl)….” [This verse] is teaching about an infant: (i...

Midrash Tanchuma, Emor 13

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

(Lev. 22:28:) “In the case of an animal from the herd or the flock, [you shall not slaughter] it and its offspring on the same day.”66Although the nouns here are masculine singular...

Midrash Tanchuma, Emor 17

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

(Lev. 23:40:) “And you shall take for yourselves on the first day [beautiful tree fruit, branches of palm trees, boughs of dense trees and willows of the brook; and you shall rejoi...

Midrash Tanchuma, Emor 18

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

(Lev. 23:40:) “And you shall take for yourselves.” [Take (rt.: lqh) implies] by a full purchase (rt.: lqh), for you are not to persist in stealing it.84ySuk. 3:1 (53c); Suk. 43a; L...

Midrash Tanchuma, Behar 1

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

(Lev. 25:14:) “When you sell property to your kinsman.” This text is related (to Prov. 28:22), “An evil-eyed person moves quickly after wealth, [and he does not know that loss will...

Midrash Tanchuma, Bechukotai 2

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

(Lev. 26:3:) “If you walk in My statutes….” This text is related (to Hos. 9:17), “My God will reject them because they did not heed Him….” The Holy One, blessed be He, said, “I hav...

Midrash Tanchuma, Nasso 2

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

Our masters have said in the name of R. [Hanina] (Huna) the father of R. Aha, “The adulterer and adulteress transgress the Ten Commandments.”13Numb. R. 9:12. [They] said to [him], ...

Midrash Tanchuma, Nasso 15

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

(Numb. 7:1), “So it came to pass on the day that Moses had finished.” This text is related (to Ps. 51:20–21), “Make Zion prosper in Your good pleasure; rebuild the walls of Jerusal...

Midrash Tanchuma, Chukat 7

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

R. Joshua of Sikhnin said in the name of R. Levi, “There are four things that the evil drive would refute [as irrational], and for each of them is written [the word,] huqqah (i.e.,...

Midrash Tanchuma, Balak 15

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

(Numb. 24:3:) “So he took up his theme and said.”76These words also appear in Numb. 23:7, 18; 24:15, 20, 21, 23, but the context of this verse certainly fits the sense of the midra...

Midrash Tanchuma, Pinchas 3

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

(Numb. 25:16-17:) “Then the Lord spoke [unto Moses], saying, ‘Harass the Midianites […].’” Why?5Numb. R. 21:4. (Numb. 25:18:) “Because they are harassing you.” Hence the sages have...

Midrash Tanchuma, Pinchas 8

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

(Numb. 27:5:) “Moses brought their cause [before the Lord].” Some say that [God] made this become too hard for Moses, as there are righteous people that become [overly] proud in ma...

Midrash Tanchuma, Pinchas 9

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

Another interpretation (of Numb. 27:5), “Moses brought their cause [before the Lord]”: R. Simeon ben Laqish said, “Our master Moses knew this judgment, but they first came before c...

Midrash Tanchuma, Pinchas 13

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

(Numb 28:2:) “Guard to offer it to Me at its set time.” This text is related (to Prov. 13:25), “The righteous man eats to satiate his soul.” This is Eliezer who said to Rebekah (in...

Midrash Tanchuma, Pinchas 15

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

(Numb. 29:35:) “On the eighth day [you shall have] a solemn assembly.” Let our master instruct us: Is it permitted to eat outside the sukkah on the Feast (of Tabernacles)?39BB 75a;...

Midrash Tanchuma, Pinchas 16

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

(Numb. 29:35:) “On the eighth day [you shall have] a solemn assembly.” This text is related (to Is. 26:16), “You have added to the nation O Lord, You have added to the nation and b...

Midrash Tanchuma, Matot 1

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

(Numb. 30:3:) “When someone makes a vow (neder) to the Lord.” Let our master instruct us: How are konamot (i.e., vows of abstinence) and vows (nedarim)? Thus have our masters taugh...

Midrash Tanchuma, Matot 2

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

(Numb. 31:1-2:) “Then the Lord spoke, ‘Exact vengeance for the Children of Israel [on the Midianites].” Let our master instruct us: How many sustained blasts (teqi'ot) does one blo...

Midrash Tanchuma, Matot 3

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

(Numb. 31:2:) “Exact vengeance [for the Children of Israel on the Midianites; afterward you shall be gathered unto your people].” R. Judah said, “If Moses had wanted to live for se...

Midrash Tanchuma, Masei 11

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

(Numb. 35:9–11:) “And the Lord spoke [unto Moses, saying], ‘Speak unto the Children of Israel, and say unto them, “When you cross the Jordan to the Land of Canaan, you shall provid...

Midrash Tanchuma, Vaetchanan 3

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

(Deut. 3:23:) “I besought the Lord.” This text is related (to I (Kings 8:30) // II Chron. 6:21), “And may You harken unto the prayer of Your servant and to his supplication.” See, ...

Midrash Tanchuma, Eikev 1

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

(Deut. 7:12:) “And it shall come to pass if (literally, in the heel of).” This text is related (to Ps. 49:6), “Why should I fear in the evil days, when the iniquity of my heels enc...

Midrash Tanchuma, Eikev 2

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

(Deut. 7:12:) “And it shall come to pass if you heed [these statutes].” This text is related (to Prov. 5:6), “She does not steer a straight path of life; her ways wander, and she d...

Midrash Tanchuma, Eikev 5

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

All of the commandment that I command you today (Deuteronomy 8:1): This is what the verse stated (Proverbs 4:22), "They are life to him who finds them, healing for his whole body,"...

Midrash Tanchuma, Eikev 6

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

Another interpretation: "All of the commandment" (Deuteronomy 8:1). If you have began with a commandment, finish all of it. Why? Rabbi Yochanan said, "Anyone who began with a comma...

Midrash Tanchuma, Re'eh 11

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

It is written (in Ps. 37:3), “Trust in the Lord and do good; settle the land and maintain yourself with faith.” R. Haggai said in the name of R. Isaac, “Interpret this verse by tra...

Midrash Tanchuma, Re'eh 13

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

(Deut. 14:22:) “You shall surely tithe.” This is related to the verse (in Prov. 31:21), “She is not afraid for her household because of snow, for all her household are dressed in s...

Midrash Tanchuma, Re'eh 14

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

Another explanation (of Deut. 14:22), “You shall tithe, tithe.” This is related to the verse (in Is. 24:5), “And the earth was distorted under its inhabitants, because they transgr...

Midrash Tanchuma, Re'eh 15

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

(Deut. 14:22:) “You shall surely tithe.” This is related to the verse (in (Job 31:3)8), “If my land cries out against me.” The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Job, “Do you have an...