Miracle

:For other uses, see Miracle (disambiguation).

Non-literal reinterpretations of miracles

These are held by both classical and modern thinkers.

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In Numbers 22 is the story of Balaam and the talking donkey. Many hold that for miracles such as this, one must either assert the literal truth of this story, or one must then reject the story as false. However, some Jewish commentators (e.g. Saadiah Gaon and Maimonides) hold that stories such as these were never meant to be taken literally in the first place. Rather, these stories should be understood as accounts of a prophetic experience, which are dreams or visions.

Related Topics:
Numbers - Balaam - Donkey - Story - Saadiah Gaon - Maimonides - Prophet - Dream - Visions

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Joseph H. Hertz, a 20th century Jewish biblical commentator, writes that these verses "depict the continuance on the subconscious plane of the mental and moral conflict in Balaam's soul; and the dream apparition and the speaking donkey is but a further warning to Balaam against being misled through avarice to violate God's command."

Related Topics:
Joseph H. Hertz - Jewish biblical commentator

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