midrash
Explanations of Jewish interpretive traditions and how midrashic readings illuminate Scripture.
THE WORD, MESSIAH & TARGUM OF ISAIAH Paid Members Public
In this post I will be citing particular chapters and verses from Isaiah and contrasting them with the Aramaic paraphrase known as Targum Pseudo-Jonathan. The Targum was produced by Jews for the benefit of their countrymen who could only understand Aramaic. This paraphrase of Isaiah gives us an insight into
Prayers of Jews to Angels and Other Intermediaries Paid Members Public
During the First Centuries of the Common Era MEIR BAR-ILAN I. Introduction It has been claimed that angels with divine power have no place in Judaism, a monotheistic religion, as the strength of such a religion lies in the exclusivity of the divinity.1 Angels can thus be no more
THE TWO POWERS OF THE SAMARITAN RELIGION Paid Members Public
In this post I will be sharing some of the beliefs of the Samaritans to show this was another group that sprung forth from Israel which held/holds to a belief in two divine Powers. The specific Samaritan work I will be citing from shall be John MacDonald’s English
METATRON IS THE WORD OF GOD? Paid Members Public
The Hebrew Bible depicts God’s Word as a living divine entity whom God sends into the world to accomplish his will, including relaying his messages to his servants (Cf. Genesis 15:1-6; 1 Samuel 3:6-7, 20-21; Psalm 107:19-20; 147:15, 18; Jeremiah 1:4-11; Zechariah 4:8-9)
Akedah: What Could It Mean? Paid Members Public
By Rich Robinson |January 01 1986 Every Rosh Hashanah, synagogue readings include the story of the Akedah from Genesis 22. Akedah is Hebrew for “binding” and refers to the central action in the story when Abraham binds his son Isaac on the altar in order to sacrifice him. The Story
THE RABBIS CLAIM: GABRIEL REBUKED GOD! Paid Members Public
According rabbinic tradition, there was a certain instance when angel Gabriel reproved and corrected God. The rabbis then discuss that Gabriel had authority to do so because of his greatness and position: § Abaye said to Rav Dimi, who descended to Babylonia from Eretz Yisrael: How do you explain this verse
METATRON: ISRAEL’S SECOND GOD REVISITED Paid Members Public
In this post I will be quoting from another Jewish source in regards to the heavenly mythical being known as Metatron, a figure which various Jewish traditions identify as the second God or “Lesser YHVH,” as well as the transformed and metamorphosed Enoch. Some of these traditions even go as
THE ANGEL METATRON: JUDAISMS’ SECOND YHWH Paid Members Public
This is a continuation from the following post: TWO POWERS IN HEAVEN: REVEALING ISRAEL’S SECOND GOD. In this specific installment I will be focusing on the angelic figure which the Talmud names Metatron. This is the One that the rabbis identify as the Angel who bears God’s very