...classified within the canon of rabbinic literature. Although the genre of the work is clearly related to midrashic literature, it does not have the major formal characteristics of midrash, such as consistently attributing statements to various Rabbis. Furthermore, PRE rarely utilizes the established hermeneutical rules generally found in midrashic works. On the other hand, PRE is similar to homiletic midrash in that it sets forth ideological agendas; another similarity is its reliance upon narrative (agadic) material. PRE commences with an extended biography of Rabbi Eliezer ben Hyrkanos, who embodied the value of Torah study and is portrayed as a saintly Rabbi (chapters 1-2). The subsequent chapters may be divided into the following subject areas: creation (chapters 3-11); a "historical" narrative from Adam to Moses (chapters 4-48); an excursus about the descendants of Amalek who played adversarial roles in Jewish history (chapters 49-50); redemption and miracles (chapters 51-52); the exodus experience, including Miriam's leprosy and the healing powers of Moses' serpent (chapters 53-54). PRE contains numerous excerpts from other works; it draws upon the Pseudepigrapha, the Jewish mystical tradition, and parts of PRE are related to Targum Pseudo Jonathan. The creator of PRE seamlessly integrated the anonymous excerpts and created a work that is almost poetic in its language. It should be noted that similar to the genre of Middle Eastern fairy...

NOTE: All illustrations and photos have been removed from this article.



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