Moses

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The life and legend of Moses, from the bulrushes of Egypt to the heights of Sinai, the greatest prophet in Jewish tradition.

The Creation Of Souls

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

The Tree of Souls tells us that these souls resided in the Garden of Eden, up above. And get this: they were all present at the Giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai! How do we know t...

The Quarrel Of The Mountains

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

You'd expect a pretty epic location. But did you know there was a whole competition to be that mountain? The story goes that when the mountains caught wind that God was planning a ...

God Abrogates The First Decree

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

There's one particular story that throws this idea into sharp relief: the Giving of the Torah. Now, picture this: At the very beginning, when the Creator shaped the cosmos, there w...

The Parting Of The Red Sea

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

That’s the situation the Israelites faced at the Yam Suf, the Sea of Reeds, what we often call the Red Sea. And what happened next is one of the most iconic moments in the entire T...

The Quarrel Of The Sea And The Earth

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

It’s a question that surfaces, quite literally, when we read the story of the Exodus. We know Pharaoh's army drowned in the Red Sea. As it says in (Exodus 15:1), "Horse and driver ...

Midrash Tanchuma, Vayera 13

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

And the Lord remembered Sarah, as he had said (Gen. 21:1). Scripture states elsewhere in allusion to this verse: God is not a man that He should lie; neither the son of man, that H...

Midrash Tanchuma, Vayera 19

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

And it came to pass after these words that God did prove Abraham (Gen. 22:1). Scripture states elsewhere in reference to this verse: Forasmuch as the king’s word hath power; and wh...

Midrash Tanchuma, Chayei Sara 6

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

And Abraham took another wife (Gen. 25:1). Scripture states elsewhere: Though thy beginning was small, yet thy end shall greatly increase (Job 8:7). This verse alludes to Moses. R....

Midrash Tanchuma, Toldot 5

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

These are the generations of Isaac, Abraham’s son: Abraham begot Isaac (Gen. 25:19). It is written in Scripture: No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tong...

Midrash Tanchuma, Vayeshev 4

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

And Joseph was brought down into Egypt (Gen. 39:1). Scripture states elsewhere in reference to this verse: Come and see the works of God; he acts circuitously in His doings toward ...

Midrash Tanchuma, Miketz 3

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

And, behold, there came up out of the river seven kine (Gen. 41:2) After he (Pharaoh) had his dream, he summoned all his magicians. Whereupon the Holy Spirit called out: Where are ...

Midrash Tanchuma, Miketz 7

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

42:1). Scripture states elsewhere in allusion to this verse: He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him; but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it (Prov....

Midrash Tanchuma, Vayigash 7

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

And Joseph made ready his chariot (Gen. 46:29). R. Yudan said in the name of R. Aibu: Two men were accorded more homage than any other men in all the world; they were Jethro and Ja...

Midrash Tanchuma, Vayechi 2

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

And the time drew near that Israel must die (Gen. 47:29). Scripture states elsewhere in allusion to this verse: There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit...

Midrash Tanchuma, Shemot 7

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

3:1). Scripture states elsewhere: Every word of God is tried; He is a shield unto them that take refuge in Him (Prov. 30:5). The Holy One, blessed be He, does not confer greatness ...

Midrash Tanchuma, Shemot 8

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

And she opened it, and saw it, even the child; and behold, a boy that wept (Exod. 2:6). The verse does not say “And behold, a child that wept” but rather a boy. This informs us tha...

Midrash Tanchuma, Shemot 9

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown up (Exod. 2:11). Does not everything grow up? Do not men, beasts, animals, and birds all grow up? Why, then, is this said? I...

Midrash Tanchuma, Shemot 10

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

And he went out on the second day, and behold, two men of the Hebrews were striving together (Exod. 2:13). Who were these men? They were Dathan and Abiram, who later said: Let us m...

Midrash Tanchuma, Shemot 11

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

2:16). Was it proper for this righteous man to go to the home of an idolater? After all, since the Holy one, blessed be He, detests idolatry, why did he permit Moses to go to a pla...

Midrash Tanchuma, Shemot 12

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

And Moses was content to dwell (Exod. 2:21). The word content (vayo’el) is used with reference to an oath, as in the case of Saul: And he adjured (vayo’el) the people (I Sam. 14:24...

Midrash Tanchuma, Shemot 14

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

And he led the flock to the farthest end of the wilderness (Exod. 3:1). In answer to the query Why did he go into the wilderness? R. Johanan said: He went into the wilderness becau...

Midrash Tanchuma, Shemot 15

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

And he looked; and behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed (Exod. 3:2). Because of this verse they held: The heavenly fire branches upwards as it burns, bu...

Midrash Tanchuma, Shemot 16

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

And Moses went and returned to Jethro, his father-in-law (Exod. 4:18). Scripture says elsewhere in reference to this verse: A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for ...

Midrash Tanchuma, Shemot 17

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

What is written prior to the episode in which Moses was keeping the flock? Many things are designated for certain purposes even before they are introduced into the world.14This is ...

Midrash Tanchuma, Shemot 18

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

And Moses went and returned to Jethro, his father-in-law (Exod. 4:18). Scripture states elsewhere: But he is at one with Himself, and who can turn Him? And what His soul desireth, ...

Midrash Tanchuma, Shemot 19

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

And he said: “Moses, Moses.” and he said: “Here am I” (Exod. 3:4). What is the meaning of Here am I? R. Joshua the son of Karha held: Here am I implies: “I am ready for priesthood ...

Midrash Tanchuma, Shemot 20

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

And the Lord said: I have surely seen the affliction of my people (Exod. 3:7). Scripture states elsewhere For He knoweth base men; and when He seeth iniquity, will He not then cons...

Midrash Tanchuma, Shemot 21

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

And Jethro said to Moses: “Go for peace” (Exod. 3:18). You find that everyone about whom it is written Go for peace departs and returns in peace, and that everyone concerning whom ...

Midrash Tanchuma, Shemot 22

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

And Moses took his wife and his sons, and set them upon an ass (Exod. 4:20). This is one of the ten verses our rabbis altered when they translated the Torah into Greek for King Pto...

Midrash Tanchuma, Shemot 23

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

And Moses took his wife and his sons, and set them upon an ass (Exod. 4:20). The singular form ass is employed here, as when a man says: “Lead out the animal” (though he may have m...

Midrash Tanchuma, Shemot 24

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

And Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel (Exod. 4:29). He told them: The Holy One, blessed be He, has said: I have surely remembered ...

Midrash Tanchuma, Shemot 25

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

And the Lord said to Aaron: “Go into the wilderness to meet Moses” (Exod. 4:27). Scripture states elsewhere in allusion to this verse: God thundereth marvelously with His voice; gr...

Midrash Tanchuma, Shemot 26

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

Another explanation of God thundereth marvelously with his voice (Job 37:5). When did the Holy One, blessed be He, perform these miracles with His voice? He did so at the time he w...

Midrash Tanchuma, Shemot 27

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

Another comment upon the verse And the Lord said to Aaron: “Go into the wilderness to meet Moses” (Exod. 4:27). Scripture says elsewhere in reference to this verse: O that thou wer...

Midrash Tanchuma, Shemot 28

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

Go into the wilderness to meet Moses (Exod. 4:27). Scripture states elsewhere in allusion to this verse: Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each ...

Midrash Tanchuma, Shemot 29

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

And Moses told Aaron all the words of the Lord (Exod. 4:29). Moses began to reveal to him everything that the Holy One, blessed be He, had told him, and that he was to go perform t...

Midrash Tanchuma, Vaera 1

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

And God spoke unto Moses, and said unto him: “I am the Lord; and I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob” (Exod. 6:2). May our masters teach us the punishment that is i...

Midrash Tanchuma, Vaera 2

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

Therefore, say unto the children of Israel: “I am the Lord, and I will bring you out” (Exod. 6:6). The word therefore implies that an oath was involved, as it is said: Therefore I ...

Midrash Tanchuma, Vaera 3

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

When Pharaoh shall speak unto you, saying: “Show a wonder for you” (Exod. 7:9). He will be making a reasonable request to you. You find in the case of Noah, that though He said to ...

Midrash Tanchuma, Vaera 4

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

When Pharaoh shall speak unto you, saying (Exod. 7:9). May it please our masters to teach us whether a man who is bitten by a serpent while standing in prayer may stop praying. Our...

Midrash Tanchuma, Vaera 5

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

And the Lord spoke unto Moses (Exod. 7:19). Scripture says elsewhere in allusion to this verse: Surely oppression turneth a wise man into a fool; and a gift destroyeth the understa...

Midrash Tanchuma, Vaera 6

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

And they said: “The God of the Hebrews hath met with us” (Exod. 5:3). Moses and Aaron declared: Perhaps You will say we altered Your words when we told him: “Thus said the Lord, th...

Midrash Tanchuma, Vaera 7

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

And the Lord said unto Moses: “See, I have set thee in God’s stead to Pharaoh” (Exod. 7:1). Scripture states elsewhere in allusion to this verse: Lift up your heads, O ye gates, an...

Midrash Tanchuma, Vaera 8

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

Another comment on Who is the King of Glory? (Ps. 24:10). He is the King of Kings, the Holy One, blessed be He, who apportions honor to those who fear Him. Therefore it is written:...

Midrash Tanchuma, Vaera 9

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

See, I have set thee in God’s stead to Pharaoh (Exod. 7:1). The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Moses: The wicked Pharaoh boasts that he is a god. Make him realize that he is an i...

Midrash Tanchuma, Vaera 10

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

See, I have set thee in God’s stead to Pharaoh, and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet (Exod. 7:1). Just as the lecturer sits and lectures, and the interpreter explains his wor...

Midrash Tanchuma, Vaera 11

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

When Pharaoh shall speak unto you (Exod. 7:9). Scripture states (elsewhere in reference to this verse): Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are...

Midrash Tanchuma, Vaera 12

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma

When Pharaoh shall speak unto you (Exod. 7:9). Scripture says elsewhere: A fool spendeth all his spirit; but a wise man stilleth it within him (Prov. 29:11). That is, the fool says...