The Midrash

An Introduction

Jacob Neusner

The Midrash: An Introduction sets forth the way in which Judaism reads the Hebrew Bible. In this masterful presentation, the reader is introduced to the classics of Jewish Bible interpretation, with special attention to the way in which the ribbis of Talmudic times read the Pentateuch, the Book of Ruth, and Song of Songs. The seven Midrash compilations are introduced with a lucid account of their main points, accompanied by selections that give the reader a direct encounter, in English, with the Bible as Judaism understands it.
The word midrash, based on the Hebrew root DaRaSH (“search”), means “interpretation” or “exegesis.” Midrash also more formally refers to the compilations of such interpretations of Scripture. As Dr. Jacob Neusner explains, these compilations “reached closure and conclusion in the formative stage of Judaism, that is, the first seven centuries of the Common Era, the time in which the Mishnah (ca. 200), Talmud of the Land of Israel (ca. 400), and Talmud of Babylonia (ca. 600) were written.”
Midrash is not so much about Scripture as it is a subordinate part of Scripture: “They did not write about Scripture,” Dr. Neusner says. “They wrote with Scripture … much as painters paint with a palette of colors.”
The Midrash: An Introduction is the second volume in Dr. Jacob Neusner’s series of introductory volumes on classical rabbinic literature. As with the first volume – The Mishnah: An Introduction – this book offers the layperson a concise description of the religious literature and, drawing on Dr. Neusner’s own translations of the texts, walks readers through the selections, providing them with firsthand experience with the document itself.
As Dr. Neusner says in his preface to The Midrash: An Introduction, “In these pages I mean to make it possible for readers to know one such compilation from the other and so to begin studying their own.”

Jason Aronson, Inc.

Pages: 246 •

978-1-56821-357-6 • Paperback • October 1994 • $48.00 • (£37.00)

978-1-4616-3158-3 • eBook • October 1994 • $45.50 • (£35.00)

Subjects: Religion / Judaism / Sacred Writings

The Midrash

An Introduction

Paperback

eBook

Summary

The Midrash: An Introduction sets forth the way in which Judaism reads the Hebrew Bible. In this masterful presentation, the reader is introduced to the classics of Jewish Bible interpretation, with special attention to the way in which the ribbis of Talmudic times read the Pentateuch, the Book of Ruth, and Song of Songs. The seven Midrash compilations are introduced with a lucid account of their main points, accompanied by selections that give the reader a direct encounter, in English, with the Bible as Judaism understands it.
The word midrash, based on the Hebrew root DaRaSH (“search”), means “interpretation” or “exegesis.” Midrash also more formally refers to the compilations of such interpretations of Scripture. As Dr. Jacob Neusner explains, these compilations “reached closure and conclusion in the formative stage of Judaism, that is, the first seven centuries of the Common Era, the time in which the Mishnah (ca. 200), Talmud of the Land of Israel (ca. 400), and Talmud of Babylonia (ca. 600) were written.”
Midrash is not so much about Scripture as it is a subordinate part of Scripture: “They did not write about Scripture,” Dr. Neusner says. “They wrote with Scripture … much as painters paint with a palette of colors.”
The Midrash: An Introduction is the second volume in Dr. Jacob Neusner’s series of introductory volumes on classical rabbinic literature. As with the first volume – The Mishnah: An Introduction – this book offers the layperson a concise description of the religious literature and, drawing on Dr. Neusner’s own translations of the texts, walks readers through the selections, providing them with firsthand experience with the document itself.
As Dr. Neusner says in his preface to The Midrash: An Introduction, “In these pages I mean to make it possible for readers to know one such compilation from the other and so to begin studying their own.”

Details

Jason Aronson, Inc.

Pages: 246 •

978-1-56821-357-6 • Paperback • October 1994 • $48.00 • (£37.00)

978-1-4616-3158-3 • eBook • October 1994 • $45.50 • (£35.00)

Subjects: Religion / Judaism / Sacred Writings

Author

About the Author:
Dr. Jacob Neusner is Graduate Research Professor of Religious Studies at the University of South Florida and is the Martin Buber Professor of Judiac Studies at the University of Frankfort. The author and editor of 300 books, Dr. Neusner holds ten honorary degrees and has lectures throughout the world. He has recently been named Visiting Fellow at Clare Hall, Cambridge University, England.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Preface ix
Prologue 1

PART 1
The Second and Third-Century Compilations
The Tannaite Midrashim

1. Exodus and Mekhilta Attributed to R. Ishmael 31
2. Leviticus and Sifra 56
3. Numbers and Sifré to Numbers 76
4. Deuteronomy and Sifré to Deuteronomy 107

PART II
The Fourth and Fifth-Century Compilations
The Earlier Rabbah Midrashim

5. Genesis and Genesis Rabbah 141

PART III
The Sixth and Seventh-Century Compilations
The Later Rabbah Midrashim

6. Ruth and Ruth Rabbah 173
7. Song of Songs and Song of Songs Rabbah 197

Bibliography of Midrash Studies by Jacob Neusner 221
Index 231

Reviews

“Jacob Neusner has provided us with a book of unusual value. It informs the reader about the background of the major Midrash compilations through the seventh century. Neusner teaches us what a Midrash-compilation is, tells us something about how it came about, and most importantly teaches us how to read a Midrash text intelligently and perceptively. It is this latter work that makes the book particularly valuable. Neusner has gone to great effort to show us the structure and logic of midrashic thinking. He illustrates with selected texts, thus giving the reader the most essential introduction to world of midrashic thought. This book has no parallel and deserves to be in the library of every person interested in understanding one of the classic forms of ancient Jewish literature.” –Dr. Marvin Fox

— Rabbi Irving Greenberg

“Jacob Neusner is a scholar of world-class stature who has wrought a revolution in our understanding of our chosen field, rabbinic literature. The Midrash is an outstanding example of his vision as an educator for all Jews. Anyone who read this book will learn how the Midrash operated in its analysis of texts, in its answers to theological questions, and in its response to the historical crises facing the Jewish people. Unlike earlier Midrash handbooks, which typically are topical and bring together quotes from all types of midrashim as from some timeless realm, this compilation gives the flavor of the individual books of the Midrash. The selections come with excellent background material and notes that explain the method and issues of each book. As a result, the reader becomes familiar with distinctive voice and values of each Midrash collection. The reader also develops a sense of method and competence in reading these rabbinic texts and gains an understanding of the historical development of Midrash.
“Most collections leave the average reader baffled and wondering why he or she cannot grasp the meaning of the rabbinic corpus. This book might be called ‘Midrash without Mystification’ because if makes the text clear for all.” – Rabbi Irving Greenberg

— Rabbi Irving Greenberg, president of CLAL, the National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership

The Midrash

An Introduction

Jacob Neusner

The Midrash

An Introduction

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