MIDRASH

(HebrewExposition, or Investigation) in Judaism, the method of biblical investigation in which oral tradition interprets and elaborates on the scriptural text. The term Midrash also denotes the large collections of Halakhic (legal) and Haggadic (nonlegal) materials deduced from the Hebrew Bible by this exegetical method. The term Midrash is derived from the Hebrew root darash, which means to search, or to investigate, and indicates intensive study, or searching, of the spirit of a biblical passage, as opposed to its literal interpretation. Such searching became necessary because the Written Law, in the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Old Testament), required reinterpretation in the light of later historical conditions, and because of the disagreement between the Pharisees and Sadducees over the status of the Oral Law (see Pharisee). Midrash thus began as a philological method of interpreting the literal meaning of biblical texts, but it developed into a complex interpretive system used to reconcile biblical contradictions, establish the scriptural bases for new laws, and bring new meaning to the scriptural text. Midrashic activity reached its height in the 2nd century CE (Common Era) with the schools of Rabbi Ishmael ben Elisha and Rabbi Akiba ben Joseph. The Talmud (scholarly interpretations of the Jewish Oral Law) quotes from all Midrashic collections (Midrashim) and uses all Midrashic rules of interpretation. The Midrashim may be divided into two broad groups: (1) Halakha Midrash, which may be defined as the scholastic deduction of the Oral Law (halakha) from the Written Law; and (2) Haggada Midrash, which consists of homiletic works whose purpose is edification rather than legislation. Both seek to reveal the inner meaning of the Bible. Haggadic Midrash was highly esteemed, but it was not so authoritative as Halakhic. Halakhic Midrashim are often dull, legalistic, and sober; whereas Haggadic Midrashim are rarely dull, are often highly imaginative and edifying, and do not insist on sobriety.