The talking donkey

The Torah tells us, that Moshe returned to Egypt to tell Pharaoh to free the Jews. The Torah describes Moshe taking his whole family on “the donkey”[1]. Which donkey are we referring to? Was there some famous donkey that is referred to as “The Donkey”?

Rashi[2] (quoting from Medrash[3]) says we are talking about the same donkey that Avraham used on his way to the Akeidas Yitzchak (to offer his son as a ‘sacrifice’ to G-d), and the same donkey that Moshiach will ride on. As the verse states[4] regarding Moshiach that he will be “riding on a donkey”.

Rashi doesn’t quote the whole Medrash. The Medrash also says, that this donkey was created during the six days of creation.

Some commentaries, like Rabbi Yitzchak Abarbanel – The Abarbanel 1437-1508[5] don’t understand the Medrash literally. They offer homiletic explanations, to make sense of the Medrash.

The Rebbe[6] explains, that Rashi understands this Medrash in its simple reading. We are dealing with a very, very old donkey!



[1] Shmos 4,20


[2] Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki (1040-1105) on this verse


[3] Pirkei DeReb Eliezer Ch. 31


[4] Zechariyah 9,9


[5] Yeshuas Meshicho Iyun HaShlishi ch. 1 cf. Gur Aryeh on Shmos 4,20


[6] Lekutei Sichos vol. 31 pg. 15