Guide
Medieval Midrash
7th to 12th Century
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Midrashic Collections
Although midrash has its origins in the rabbinic period, several midrashic collections were composed or edited in the medieval period. Some medieval midrashic works address limited topics, such as the Ten Commandments or the death of Moses.
Aggadic (narrative, as opposed to legal) midrash freely expands the biblical text, often drawing connections among diverse passages.
Because many midrashic interpretations were initially transmitted orally, it is difficult to date them. Midrashic collections of the medieval period clearly contain much older traditions whose compilation and circulation in the medieval period attests to their sustained popularity. Their final redaction, however, reflects medieval concerns and literary norms.
Related Primary Sources
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Greater Teaching
Pesikta rabbati, Piska 14, 30 (selections)
Our Masters told this story: In Israel there was a certain man who owned a plowing heifer, but his wealth slipped out of his hand, and he had to sell her to a heathen. As soon as the heathen…
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The Tractate of Gehenna
Masekhet gehinom (The Tractate of Gehenna), Chapter 1, 2 (selections)
Rabbi Yohanan began his homily with the verse Passing through the valley of weeping, they make it a valley of springs (Psalms 84:6). This means to say that the sinner confesses, just as the…
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The Chapters of R. Eliezer (Pirke de-Rabbi Eliezer): On the Akedah
Pirke de-Rabbi Eliezer (The Chapters of R. Eliezer), Chapter 31 (selections)
Rabbi Jehudah said: In that night was the Holy One, blessed be He, revealed unto him, and He said unto him: Abraham! “Take now thy son, thine only son, whom thou lovest, even Isaac” (Genesis 22:2)…
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The Midrash of Three and Four
Midrash sheloshah ve-arba‘ah (The Midrash of Three and Four), Chapters 1, 2, 3, Conclusion (selections)
[ . . . ] About three things a man must request mercy every day: good news, a good king, and a good dream—and some say even a good neighbor [see b. Berakhot 55a].
There are three to whom…
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The Midrash on Jonah
Midrash Yonah (The Midrash on Jonah), Jonah 1:1-2
The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: Arise, go to Nineveh. (Jonah 1:1–2)
The name of the king of all kings, the Holy One, should be blessed and praised, for His mercies on His…
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Lesser Midrash on Ruth
Ruth zuta (Lesser Midrash on Ruth), Ruth 1:4, 3, 12-13, 20-21, 2:13
Now they took wives of the women of Moab: the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth. And they dwelled there about ten years. (Ruth 1:4)
They took wives of the women of Moab. What…
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The Midrash of "Gather"
Midrash esfah (The Midrash of “Gather”), Numbers 20:1
And the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, came into the wilderness of Zin in the first month; and the people abode in Kadesh; and Miriam died there, and was buried there (Numbers 20:1)…
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The Midrash on Proverbs
Midrash mishle (The Midrash on Proverbs), Chapters 1, 10 (selections)
But where can wisdom be found? (Job 28:12)—this refers to the Queen of Sheba, who heard of Solomon’s wisdom. She said, “I’ll go see whether or not he is wise.” Whence [do we learn] that she had heard…
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The Midrash of the Explanation of the Torah
Midrash pitron torah (Midrash of the Explanation of the Torah), Leviticus 19:1–20:27 (selections)
The Almighty, within whom light dwells,
with His word, He created light.
Rims filled [with eyes; see Ezekiel 1:18], [angels] stand in purity,
singing songs of praise to the holy, awesome One.
As is…
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Teaching According to the House of Elijah
Tanna de-be-Eliyahu (Teaching according to the House of Elijah), Exodus 20:1–2
Comment on the verse And God spoke all these words, saying: I am the Lord thy God, etc. (Exodus 20:1–2) [begins with the blessing]: Blessed be He whose Presence is everywhere, blessed be He who chose…
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Great Laws (Halakhot gedolot): On the Transmission of the Torah
Halakhot gedolot (Great Laws), Proverbs 8:22
The Lord made me as the beginning of His way, the first of His works of old. (Proverbs 8:22)
The Torah declared: I was formed before the creation of the world. R. Huna said in the name of R. Simeon…
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The Midrash of R. Tanḥuma: On Noah
Midrash Tanḥuma (The Midrash of R. Tanḥuma), Genesis 8:1
And God remembered Noah. (Genesis 8:1)
May it please our master to teach us the benediction recited upon witnessing a rainbow. Thus did our masters teach us: Upon seeing a rainbow, one should recite…
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Book of “And He Warned”
Sefer ve-hizhir (Book of “And He Warned”), Leviticus 25:1-4
The Holy One instructed the people of Israel to let their fields lie fallow for the seventh year and to allow the land to rest from sowing, plowing, planting vines, mowing, and pruning, as it is…
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The Midrash on Psalms 113–118
Midrash Hallel (The Midrash on Psalms 113–118), Psalms 113:1, 114:1
This book [Psalms] was described with ten terms [types] of praise: glorification, melody, song, Hallel, chorus, wisdom, adoration, supplication, songs of joy, and thanksgiving. Ten prophets recited…
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The Book of Commandments: Introduction
If God will purify His entire people Israel from all impurity and give them a new heart and a new spirit and gather them all to His holy city . . . His House and His Temple, and establish us in His…
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The Midrash of Thirty-Two Attributes
There are thirty-three exegetical rules by which aggadic passages are interpreted. They are: 1) extension; 2) limitation; 3) extension after extension; [ . . . ]
1) How is the rule of “extension”…
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Greater Midrash on Exodus (Exodus Rabbah)
Exodus Rabbah (Greater Midrash on Exodus), Exodus 30:9, 47:1, 43:4
Another explanation of He issued His commands to Jacob [His statutes and rules to Israel] (Psalms 147:19)—R. Abbahu, in the name of R. Yosi ben R. Ḥanina, said: It can be compared to a…
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Lesser Midrash on Lamentations
Ekha zuta (Lesser Midrash on Lamentations), Lamentations 1:1-5, Isaiah 22:12
R. Eleazar the son of R. Yosi the Galilean expounded, and, following him, R. Ḥanina expounded similarly: How does the city sit solitary (Lamentations 1:1).
Jeremiah said before the Holy One, “Master…
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The Chronicles of Moses
In the one hundred and thirtieth year after the children of Israel went down to Egypt, sixty years following the death of Joseph, Pharaoh dreamed another dream. In this dream, there was a certain old…
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The Midrash of “Let the earth put forth grass”
Midrash tadshe’ (The Midrash of “Let [the Earth] Put Forth Grass”), Chapters 1, 2 (selections)
And God said, “Let the earth put forth grass, herb yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit after its kind, in which is the seed thereof, on the earth.” (Genesis 1:11)
R. Phineas ben Yair said…
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The Throne and Throne Room of King Solomon
The sages taught: Solomon ruled over the heavenly worlds and the earthly worlds, as it says: Then Solomon sat upon the throne of the Lord as king (1 Chronicles 29:23) [b. Megillah 11b]. R. Yoḥanan…
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Greater Midrash on Genesis (Bereshit rabbati)
Bereshit rabbati (Greater Midrash on Genesis), Genesis 6:2
The sons of God (Genesis 6:2)
R. Joseph said: The angels saw that the Holy One was grieved because He had created humans. Immediately, two angels, whose names were Shemḥazai and ‘Aza’el, stood…
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Midrash of the Death of Moses
When the time came for Moses our Master, peace be with him, to depart from this world, the Holy One, blessed be He, said to him: “Behold, thy days approach that thou must die” (Deuteronomy 31:14).
Whe…
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Greater Midrash on Numbers (Numbers Rabbah)
Numbers Rabbah, Numbers 1:1
And the Lord spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, [in the Tent of Meeting, in the second year, in the second month, on the first of the month]. (Numbers 1:1)This is the meaning of the verse: He…
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The Midrash of “And He Saved”
This early medieval midrash chronicles the early life of Moses and the heroic actions of his wife Zipporah.
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The Midrash on Exchange
Midrash temurah (Midrash on Exchange), Chapter 2 (selections)
R. Akiva began: As for man, his days are as grass; as a flower of the field, so he flourishes (Psalms 103:15). There was an incident with R. Ishmael and R. Akiva, who were walking in the…
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Good Teaching (Lekaḥ tov): On the First of the Ten Commandments
Lekaḥ tov (Good Teaching), Exodus 20:2
I am the Lord your God. (Exodus 20:2)
He opened with the letter alef, the first of the letters: The word which He commanded to a thousand [elef] generations (Psalms 105:8; 1 Chronicles 16:15). Why…
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The Midrash of R. Tanḥuma: On Prayer
Midrash Tanḥuma (The Midrash of R. Tanḥuma), Genesis 18:1
May it please our master to teach us: How many benedictions must a man pray each day? Thus do our masters teach us: A man must pray the eighteen benedictions [of the Amidah] each day. Why eighteen? R…
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The Book of Rossina
Sefer Rossina (The Book of Rossina), Genesis 1:26
Let us make man in our image (Genesis 1:26)—He took counsel with the Torah, which was with Him, to show an example to the world, that even if a person has authority to act, he should not do anything…
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The Chapters of R. Eliezer (Pirke de-Rabbi Eliezer): On Havdalah
Pirke de-Rabbi Eliezer (The Chapters of R. Eliezer), Chapter 20
At twilight on Saturday [evening], Adam was meditating in his heart and saying: “Woe to me! Perhaps the serpent, which deceived me, will come in the evening, and he will strike me [yeshufeni] in the…