Jewish Texts

What is the meaning of Ezekiel 20:24-26? The Targum interprets verses 24 and 25 as follows: Because they rebelled against My Word… I put them under the control of their foolish inclinations, so they went and practiced inappropriate laws and…

What is Psalm 22 referring to? Psalm 22 is about a person who is crying out to G-d to save him from the taunts and torments of his enemies, and (in the last ten verses) thanking G-d for rescuing him.…

How long are a handsbreadth and a cubit? A handsbreadth is a little over 3 inches long. A cubit is about 20 inches long, i.e. over a foot and a half.

What is the “stone of Abel” in 1 Samuel 6:18? The verse reads “To the great Evel, on which they rested the Ark of Ha-Shem”. The Aramaic translation (Targum) and Rashi’s commentary take “Evel” to be a variant spelling of…

What is the significance of the number 40 in the Bible? The number 40 occurs most conspicuously in connection with the Flood (40 days), with Moses on Mount Sinai (40 days, during which the Jews made the Golden Calf), and…

What is the origin of the statement that the world is like a narrow bridge? The comparison of the world to a bridge isn’t in the Bible; in fact, the word “gesher” isn’t Biblical Hebrew. An early comparison of the…

What are the "ancient paths" mentioned in Jeremiah 6:16? The "ancient paths" are the paths of righteousness followed by our ancestors (commentary of RaDaK). The Midrash amplifies this: Consider in what path Abraham and Jacob went, and in what path…

How do the Jewish commentators interpret Isaiah Ch. 53? They interpret it as describing the return of the Jewish people from exile after great suffering, and as saying that the merit of the Jewish people brings forgiveness to the world.…