midrash

Explanations of Jewish interpretive traditions and how midrashic readings illuminate Scripture.

THE PREEXISTENT TORAH AND MESSIAH Members Public

According to Genesis Rabbah, the personified Wisdom which speaks in Proverbs 8:22-36 is the preexistent Torah that was there alongside of God from before the creation of the world. It also interprets the light that YHWH clothes himself with according to Psalm 104:2, and the light that has

Sam Shamoun
Sam Shamoun
judaismmidrashtorah

JEWISH ENCYCLOPEDIA ON METATRON Members Public

This section is taken from: MEṬAṬRON (Hebr. ; Greek, Μητάτωρ; Latin, “Metator”). All emphasis is mine By: Joseph Jacobs, Ludwig Blau Name of an angel found only in Jewish literature. Elisha b. Abuyah, seeing this angel in the heavens, believed there were “two powers” or divinities (Ḥag. 15a, above). When God

Sam Shamoun
Sam Shamoun
angelsjudaismzohar

Encyclopedia Judaica on Metatron Members Public

This extract is taken from Encyclopedia Judaic (Second Edition), Fred Skolnik, Editor in Chief, & Michael Berenbaum, Executive Editor, published by Keter Publishing House, 2002, Volume 14: Mel–Nas, pp. 132-134. All emphasis is mine. METATRON (Matatron), angel accorded a special position in esoteric doctrine from the tannaitic period on.

Sam Shamoun
Sam Shamoun
angelsjudaismzohar

THE VOICE OF YHVH APPEARS Members Public

In this article I will quote rabbinic sources to prove that when in Genesis 3:8 it is stated that Adam and Eve heard YHVH’s Voice walking, that this Voice was not simply the sound of God walking through the Garden. Rather, the rabbis admitted that God’s Voice

Sam Shamoun
Sam Shamoun
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SIRACH & THE TALMUD Members Public

In this post I quote select passages from the Babylonian Talmud where the rabbis affirm the authority of Ecclesiasticus, also known as Ben Sirach, and even quote from it to establish doctrine. The rabbis even placed Sirach in the section called Writings (ketuvim). כָּתוּב בַּתּוֹרָ

Sam Shamoun
Sam Shamoun
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TARGUM OF ISAIAH 53 REVISITED Members Public

In this post I will be quoting the English translation of the Aramaic paraphrase of Isaiah 52:13-53:12 done by Sefaria, an orthodox Jewish website. All emphasis will be mine. הָא יַצְלַח עַבְדִי מְשִׁיחָא יְרוּם וְיִ

Sam Shamoun
Sam Shamoun
isaiahprophecyjudaism

RABBINIC JUDAISM & THE NEPHILIM Members Public

The following quotes are from Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, Chapter 22 (https://www.sefaria.org/Pirkei_DeRabbi_Eliezer.22?lang=bi). These citations give us an idea of how some rabbinic authorities interpreted Genesis 6:1-4, which speaks of the sons of God cohabiting with the daughters of men. All emphasis

Sam Shamoun
Sam Shamoun
judaismmidrashgenesis

MIDRASHIC PSALMS ON GOD’S SPIRIT Members Public

The following quotations are taken from the Midrash Tehillim. These citations show that even the rabbis believed that the Holy Spirit is a divine Person who speaks as and for YHWH God, All emphasis will be mine. PSALM 5 דבר אחר אל הנחילות. זה שאמר הכתוב (משלי ח כא) להנחיל

Sam Shamoun
Sam Shamoun
midrashpsalmsholy-spirit
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