Editing Exegesis (section)

====Midrashic====
Midrashic exegesis was largely in the nature of [[homiletics]], expounding the Bible not primarily in order to understand the documents of the past (although in some instances it is indeed the case), but to find religious [[wikt:edification|edification]], moral instruction, and sustenance for the thoughts and feelings of the present. The contrast between the explanation of the literal sense and the Midrash, which played off of the texts as written, was recognized by the ''[[Tannaim]]'' and ''[[Amoraim]]'', but their idea of the literal meaning of a passage may not be allowed by more modern standards.{{whose|reason=Whose standards?|date=March 2022}} The [[Tannaim|''tanna'']] Rabbi [[Ishmael ben Elisha]] said, rejecting an exposition of [[Eliezer ben Hyrcanus]]: "Truly, you say to Scripture, 'Be silent while I am expounding!{{'"}}<ref>''[[Sifra]]'' on Leviticus 13:49</ref>