Rachel S. Mikva undertakes a close examination of Midrash vaYosha ,
a medieval rabbinic text which explicates the Song at the Sea (Ex
15:1-18) and the events of the exodus from Egypt leading up to that
climactic moment. Relatively short midrashim focusing on a brief
biblical narrative or theme were composed in large numbers during
the medieval period, and their extant manuscripts are sufficient in
number to demonstrate the great popularity of the genre. Based on
early manuscripts, two different recensions are transcribed and
translated with significant annotation exploring variants,
parallels, exegetical significance and literary style. A thorough
historical analysis suggests that the midrash was performed as
explication of the Torah reading at a certain point in its
development - part of the gradual attenuation of live Targum. As
Midrash vaYosha leaves the synagogue, its narrative dimension grows
tremendously, yielding significant insight into the development of
medieval Jewish exegesis.
