How does Judaism read scripture?
An overview of the rabbinic midrash-compilations
Genesis in Genesis Rabbah : recasting the patriarchs into the models for Israelite conduct
Exodus in Mekhilta attributed to R. Ishmael : reorganizing the facts of scripture into coherent expositions on important topics
Leviticus in Sifra : mediating between the two Torahs, oral and written
Leviticus in Leviticus Rabbah : turning scripture's laws into the design of holy Israel's social order
Numbers in Sifré to Numbers : systematically reading and expounding scripture's narratives in accord with the rabbinic model
Deuteronomy in Sifré to Deuteronomy : turning scripture's cases into laws, and laws into an entire social system
Esther in Esther Rabbah I : a woman saves Israel
Ruth in Ruth Rabbah : a gentile woman saves Israel through the Torah
Song of Songs in Song of Songs Rabbah : reading holy Israel's relationship to God within the symbols of a love-song
Lamentations in Lamentations Rabbah : updating scripture's response to the First Temple's destruction by showing how an event defines a pattern
The calendar of Judaism in Pesiqta deRab Kahana : telling time by Judaism's clock
The sages in the Fathers according to Rabbi Nathan
The theology of rabbinic midrash.
