Mercy in Jewish Mythology

123 myths · Page 5 of 5

The thirteen attributes of divine mercy, God's compassion for creation, and the rabbinic teaching that mercy sustains the world.
Myth 5 min

The One Who Wounded Must Pray for His Victim

Payment is not enough after the blow. Abraham prayed for Abimelech, and the injurer still owes heaven a request for mercy.

PeaceInjuryPrayerAbrahamMercy
Myth 6 min

God Bound Hosea to a Harlot to Teach Him Not to Abandon Israel

When Hosea tells God to swap faithless Israel for a better people, God weds him to a harlot and lets him love her children until the words turn back on him.

HoseaProphetsMarriageMercyRepentanceLegends Of The JewsExile
Parshat Haazinu 6 min

Israel Calculated Which Sin Would Wound Heaven the Most

They sat with the death penalties written out and picked the heaviest one on purpose, and then the injured party asked to be charged first.

Divine JusticeJudgmentExileProphecyMercyMidrash Rabbah