The Son of Man in the Midrash

Abstract

This chapter describes the rabbinic passage in which some scholars recognize the tradition of Daniel's Son of Man as the young God is in the Mekhilta, a relatively early Palestinian midrash dating from the second half of the third century. This is an exegesis of Exodus 20:2: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt.” The chapter also highlights the subject of the midrash, which are the different manifestations of God, namely, once as a war hero and evidently young man, and once as an old man full of mercy. The young war hero reveals himself at the Sea of Reeds and the merciful old man reveals himself at Sinai. As the usual practice in the midrash, both manifestations are substantiated by bible verses.