King David

2,344 texts · Page 10 of 49

The shepherd king who slew Goliath, wrote the Psalms, and founded the dynasty from which the Messiah will come.

David Cries Out to God After Absalom's Betrayal

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Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic commentaries on the Book of Psalms, grapples with that very feeling. Specifically, it dives into Psalm 3. And right off the bat, we get a...

Moses in David's Court

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Even Moses, leading the Israelites out of Egypt, felt that way. He looked at the nations surrounding them, nations far more numerous, and thought, "These nations are more numerous ...

David Pours His Heart Into Sacred Prayer

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King David knew that feeling. He poured his heart into the Psalms, and within those verses, the ancient rabbis found layers upon layers of meaning – not just for David, but for all...

David's Struggle After the Bathsheba Affair

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We often picture him as this divinely favored ruler, harp in hand, composing the Psalms. But even kings, especially those after God’s own heart, have their burdens. Midrash Tehilli...

How Near Is God When We Call Upon Him

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Midrash, the art of interpreting scripture by filling in the gaps, expanding on hints, and drawing out deeper meanings, wrestles with this very idea. Midrash Tehillim, a collection...

Elisha in the Days of Moses

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This particular passage, Midrash Tehillim 4, starts by talking about the dedication of a psalm: "To the conductor with musical instruments." But it's not just about the music itsel...

David Asks God to Push Him Toward Righteousness

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Like you're saying, "Hey, I need a little help here... maybe even a big push?" Well, you're not alone. to a fascinating little corner of Jewish thought from Midrash Tehillim, a col...

Jesse in Battle

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Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic interpretations of the Book of Psalms, gives us a glimpse into his struggle. The text opens with a raw, almost painful cry: "How long wil...

God Hears the Righteous Even When No One Else Does

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Jewish tradition offers a powerful counter-narrative, a promise that we are heard, that we will be heard, especially in moments of anger, reflection, and ultimately, trust. (Psalm ...

Job and David Debate the Meaning of Sacrifice

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The ancient rabbis wrestled with these questions too. And (Psalm 4:6), "Offer sacrifices of righteousness, and trust in the Lord," became a launching pad for some profound insights...

Deborah and Moses Sing Praises to God

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It turns out, that instinct might be deeply woven into the fabric of our tradition. Because according to Midrash Tehillim, that feeling is intrinsically linked to music. Specifical...

How Angels Taught Israel to Praise with Music

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The ancient rabbis certainly thought so. And they found echoes of this idea even in the seemingly simple words of the Psalms. Specifically, in Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rab...

Adam and David Welcome the First Sabbath

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David, millennia later, giving voice to the unspoken gratitude of humanity's dawn. Rabbi Samuel, whose teaching is recorded in the Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary), ident...

David — World to Come

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Ever find yourself reading the Psalms and wondering, "What's really going on here?" We do too! to a fascinating passage from Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic interpretati...

Righteousness in Heaven

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It’s a question that’s echoed through the ages, and one that our tradition wrestles with beautifully. Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Psal...

Doeg in Heaven

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The Book of Psalms certainly does. And the Midrash, the ancient rabbinic commentaries, dives deep into these very questions. Today, we're looking at Midrash Tehillim 5, a fascinati...

David's Songs of Longing During Bitter Exile

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Jewish tradition is filled with stories of hardship, exile, and longing for redemption. But within those stories, like hidden sparks, are glimmers of hope, resilience, and profound...

Abraham and Creation and the Crown

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Midrash Tehillim, a beautiful collection of interpretations on the Book of Psalms, offers a powerful contrast to this feeling. It tells us that while worldly gifts can be lost, the...

Solomon and Daniel Plead for God's Mercy

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We’re going to look at the deeper significance of the eighth day of Passover, and how it connects to the struggles of the Jewish people throughout history. The Midrash (rabbinic in...

David Cries Out 'Until When' in His Deepest Despair

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King David knew that feeling. And he put it into words that still resonate with us today. (Psalm 31:15). "And my soul is greatly troubled (and you incline your ear), and you, Lord,...

What Happens to the Soul After Death

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Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Psalms, wrestles with this very idea. Specifically, Midrash Tehillim 6, drawing inspiration from the phras...

Tears That Reach the Gates of Heaven

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That feeling, that raw emotion, is at the heart of a powerful story preserved in Midrash Tehillim, a collection of interpretations on the Book of Psalms. It's a story about faith, ...

Saul and the Heavenly Realms

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The Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Psalms, delves into Psalm 7, which begins "A shigayyon of David." Now, a shigayyon is often understood...

Why Saul and David Were Both Deeply Flawed

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We often paint biblical figures with broad strokes – good guys and bad guys. But what happens when we delve deeper, when we wrestle with their imperfections and try to understand t...

David — Doeg and the Torah

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The Psalms, those ancient songs of King David, knew all about that feeling. And the Rabbis, centuries later, unpacked those feelings in their own special way, through midrash (rabb...

Kingdom of Saul of David

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The Midrash Tehillim, a collection of Rabbinic commentaries on the Book of Psalms, grapples with just that, using Psalm 7 as a springboard to explore themes of guilt, respect, and ...

The Terrifying Anger of God at Mount Sinai

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The story, as told in Midrash Tehillim, is truly terrifying. Imagine Moses, up on Mount Sinai, receiving the Torah. A moment of ultimate revelation. And down below? The Israelites,...

David Finds Strength Through God's Judgment

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Even King David, the sweet singer of Israel, knew what that felt like. Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Psalms, delves deep into David's st...

Songs of Praise

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In Midrash Tehillim, a beautiful collection of interpretations on the Book of Psalms, we find this very sentiment expressed, almost like a prayer: "May the wickedness of the wicked...

Haman Beyond the Firmament

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Midrash Tehillim, a collection of interpretations on the Book of Psalms, explores this very idea. It begins with the image of a pit being dug. "A pit is dug and is excavated. All t...

David and Saul's Fateful Dance of Destiny

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It's not just a simple story of good versus evil, or the righteous youth triumphing over the jealous king. It's a nuanced dance of fate, faith, and free will. And a passage in Midr...

Kingdom of David of Saul

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The ancient collection of rabbinic teachings called Midrash Tehillim uses a powerful analogy to describe exactly that feeling – and it centers on the life of King David. Imagine th...

David Confessed His Errors and Begged Forgiveness

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David, King of Israel, certainly did. And he turned to the most powerful tool he knew: confession. Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic commentaries on the Book of Psalms, de...

Habakkuk and the Lawgiver

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It’s a question that’s plagued humanity for ages, and it’s something the ancient rabbis wrestled with too. Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic teachings on the Book of Psalm...

Shaul and the King

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In Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Psalms, the text wrestles with this very idea, using the term "Cushite" as a lens to understand beauty,...

David the Shepherd King Awaits Redemption

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Our sages explored this very feeling, using the image of the harvest and the vintage to understand the delicate timing of redemption. It's all there in Midrash Tehillim, a collecti...

When the Angels Argued With God About Creating Humans

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We often picture them as these serene, obedient beings, but some ancient texts paint a different picture. A picture where angels actually… argue with God. That's exactly what we fi...

What Sinai Reveals About the Purpose of Creation

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It’s not just about remembering a historical event; it’s about something far more profound. Midrash Tehillim 8, a commentary on the Book of Psalms, delves into the very heart of th...

How Tiny Humans Fit Into the Grand Cosmic Tapestry

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That feeling, that confrontation with the vastness of creation, is something Jewish tradition wrestles with too. How do we, tiny humans, fit into this grand cosmic tapestry? Midras...

God Made Everything Beautiful in Its Time

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Jewish tradition offers a path, not of easy answers, but of profound understanding. (Ecclesiastes 3:11) tells us, "He has made everything beautiful in its time." But what about dea...

Why God Hides the Reward for Doing Good

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Why we don't have all the answers, especially when it comes to the big questions like, "What's the ultimate reward for doing good?" Midrash Tehillim 9, a beautiful exploration with...

David Calls on Heaven's Warriors for Help

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It’s in his words, preserved in the Book of Psalms, that we often find solace and, perhaps surprisingly, a roadmap through those very times.Specifically, we're looking at Midrash T...

God Rebukes the Nations Who Attacked Israel

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" This verse, seemingly simple, becomes a springboard for a deep dive into themes of good and evil, destiny, and the very nature of creation. The Midrash (rabbinic interpretive com...

Why Amalek Threatens God's Throne of Glory

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The story of Amalek is one such echo. Amalek, that ancient nemesis of the Israelites, wasn't just a tribe; they represented something far more sinister: the embodiment of unprovoke...

Ruth and the King

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Rabbi Levi suggests a difference in timing. When the Holy One, blessed be He, judges the nations of the world, it happens at night, a time when they are asleep, supposedly free fro...

Where Do the Wicked Go After They Die

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The Talmudic sages definitely grappled with that question. to a fascinating, and perhaps a little unsettling, passage from Midrash Tehillim (Midrash on Psalms), specifically Psalm ...

Poetry of Prayer

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The verse declares, "For the poor shall not always be forgotten; the hope of the poor shall not perish forever." But what does that really mean? Rabbi Yudan, in Midrash Tehillim, a...

Nebuchadnezzar and the Angels of Songs

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That's exactly the kind of potent imagery we find swirling through the ancient Jewish texts. Today, we’re diving into Midrash Tehillim 9, a section of commentary on the Book of Psa...