Texts and Translation: Midrash Rabba

1. Midrash Rabba. Edited by M. A. Mirkin. Tel Aviv, 1956.
   vocalized, with commentary and cross references.
2. Midrash Rabba, with Commentaries of Mattenot Kehuna, Rashi, Messoret Hamidrash, Yefeh To'ar, Perush HaMeharzo.2 vols. Wilna: 1879. Reprint. New York: E. Grossman, 1953.
   Mattenot Kehuna: Issachar Baer b. Naphtali Katz Cohen. Completed in 1584; first published in Cracow, 1587. Style simple, clear and brief. Translates Aramaic and foreign words and expressions as well as strange Hebrew words into simple Hebrew. Emends text. His emendations often included in published text.
   Rashi: Attributed to Solomon Yitzhaki. First published in Venice ed. of Genesis Rabbah, 1567. Not by Rashi; imitation of Rashi's style poor.
   Messoret Hamidrash: Cross references to parallel passages in talmudic and midrashic literature; not complete, numerous errors.
   Yefeh To'ar: Samuel Ashkenazi. First published in Venice, 1597. Useful commentary; often interprets text with keen homiletic insight, translates strange words and expressions, provides context for midrashic discussion utilizing full talmudic and midrashic material. At times involved and farfetched.
   Perush haMeharzo: Wolf Einhorn. Completed in 1856. Elaborate and often illuminating commentary; emends on basis of comparison of texts, often philosophical. Cites biblical context and relation to parallel passages in rabbinic literature. Emphasizes 32 hermeneutic principles of midrashic exegesis, as expounded in the Baraita d'lamed-bet middot, to which he wrote elaborate commentary, Midrash Tanna'im.
   (Eds. note: descriptions of commentators by Eugene Mihaly.)
3. Midrash Rabba. 10 vols. London: Soncino Press, 1939.

Return to Table of Contents