Vayikra Rabbah

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Vayikra Rabbah
Names
Vayikra Rabbah
ויקרא רבה, אגדה של ויקרא
Date5th-6th century
PlaceEretz Yisrael
Characteristics
Sources
Impacted on

Background

Names

  • Common name – The name ויקרא רבה appears already in the Arukh1 and Shemot Rabbah2.
  • Other names – The work is also cited under the names אגדה דויקרא‎3 and הגדה דויקרא‎.4

Date

  • 5th-7th century5

Place of Origin

  • Eretz Yisrael6

Language

  • The Midrash is written in Hebrew mixed with Galilean Aramaic. It also makes occasional use of Greek words.

Text

  • Manuscripts –
  • Printings –
  • Textual layers –

Content

Genre

  • Vayikra Rabbah is an aggadic Midrash on Sefer Vayikra which is not a running commentary, but rather a collection of 37 derashot, each of which focuses only on a single verse.7

Structure

  • Vayikra Rabbah is divided into 37 sections (parshiyot).8
  • Most of the parshiyot end with a concluding blessing or words of consolation, clearly closing the unit.9

Characteristics

  • –

Sources

Significant Influences

  • Mishna – Vayikra Rabbah cites the Mishna dozens of times.10
  • Yerushalmi – There are numerous parallels between Vayikra Rabbah and the Yerushalmi,11 but scholars disagree on whether Vayikra Rabbah had our Yerushalmi.12
  • Bereshit Rabbah – There are numerous parallels between Vayikra Rabbah and Bereshit Rabbah,13 but scholars disagree on whether Vayikra Rabbah had Bereshit Rabbah.14

Occasional Usage

  • Midrash Kohelet – Cited on one occasion.15
  • Ben Sira – Cited on one occasion.16

Possible Relationship

  • Mekhilta – 17
  • Sifra – 18
  • Sifre Bemidbar – 19
  • Sifre Devarim – 20

Impact

Other Midrashim

  • Tanchuma – On one occasion Vayikra Rabbah cites Tanchuma.21 22
  • Pesikta DeRav Kahana – There are five whole parshiyot which are verbatim in Vayikra Rabbah23 and Pesikta DeRav Kahana. Scholars disagree which midrash copied from the other.24
  • Shemot Rabbah cites Vayikra Rabbah in one place.25
  • Midreshei Rabbah Megillot –

Medieval Exegetes

  • Piyyutei Yannai –

Supercommentaries

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