Hebrew commentary on the Book of Exodus .
One of the exegetic commentaries known as the Halakhic Midrashim, the Mekhilta presents a composite of three kinds of materials concerning the Book of Exodus: exegeses of certain passages, propositional and argumentative essays on theological principles, and topical articles on the written and oral Torah . It was produced by a Talmudic school founded by Ishmael ben Elisha 0441; AD 300 and known as the House of Ishmael. The name Mekhilta (Hebrew: "measure") refers to its use as a rule or norm for conduct. See also Halakhah , Midrash , Talmud .