Midrash

Midrash is Jewish interpretive literature that explores and expands the meaning of biblical texts through close reading, storytelling, and legal reasoning.

Hebrew Bible: The collection of sacred texts that forms the foundational scripture of Judaism. Midrash interprets and expands passages from this scriptural collection.
Midrash halakha: A form of midrash that derives or explains Jewish law through biblical interpretation. It shows how close readings of scripture can support legal conclusions.
Mekhilta of Rabbi Ishmael: A tannaitic midrash that interprets the Book of Exodus, especially its legal sections. It is a major example of midrash focused on Exodus and biblical law.
Second Temple Judaism: Second Temple Judaism is the diverse Jewish religious and cultural life between the rebuilding of the Temple and its destruction in 70 CE. Interpretive practices predating rabbinic compilations formed part of midrash's background.
Jewish hermeneutics: Jewish hermeneutics is the study and practice of interpreting Jewish scripture and tradition. Midrash is one of its most influential forms and bodies of practice.
Rabbinic Judaism: The form of Judaism shaped by rabbinic interpretation of the Torah and inherited traditions. Rabbinic institutions and teaching communities developed much of the midrashic tradition.
Midrash aggadah: A form of midrash that develops biblical interpretation through narrative, theology, and ethical teaching. It expands scripture through stories and ideas rather than primarily through legal rulings.
Sifra: A tannaitic midrash on Leviticus that interprets its laws and scriptural wording. Its close readings show midrash at work on the Torah's priestly laws.
Tannaim: The Tannaim were early rabbinic sages whose teachings were transmitted mainly from about 10 to 220 CE. Their interpretations became the basis of many early collections of midrash.
Biblical narrative: Biblical narrative is the prose storytelling found in the books of the Bible. Midrash often fills narrative gaps and explores the motives of biblical characters.

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