Midrash: Giving Voice to the Voiceless

Ancient biblical commentary provides new perspectives on overlooked characters and stories

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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The biblical book of Proverbs contains a mysterious poem attributed to "King Lemuel" and his mother. Through the ancient Jewish tradition of Midrash, rabbis speculated about the identities of these obscure figures, giving voice to the voiceless and providing backstories that shed new light on the text. This article explores how the Midrash tradition continues to inspire contemporary artists and writers to creatively reinterpret biblical narratives from alternative perspectives.

Why it matters

The Midrash tradition demonstrates how sacred texts can be viewed as multi-layered, with no single interpretation. By imagining the perspectives of overlooked or marginalized biblical characters, Midrash reveals new insights and connections to modern-day concerns around social justice, environmental issues, and the human condition.

The details

The poem in Proverbs 31:1-9 is attributed to "King Lemuel" and his mother, but their identities remain a mystery. Through the ancient Jewish tradition of Midrash, rabbis speculated that "King Lemuel" was another name for King Solomon, and that his mother was Bathsheba, the woman King David had killed her husband to marry. Midrash accounts describe how Bathsheba admonished her son Solomon with the words of the poem, even slapping him with her shoes to wake him up on the day of the Temple's inauguration.

  • The Midrash tradition of biblical commentary was written between A.D. 400 and 1200.
  • For nine years, the author was part of a program in Indianapolis that invited artists to create their own "midrash" inspired by biblical texts.

The players

Proverbs 31:1-9

A biblical poem that contains mysterious references to "King Lemuel" and his mother.

King Lemuel

The mysterious figure to whom the poem in Proverbs 31:1-9 is attributed, speculated by rabbis to be another name for King Solomon.

Bathsheba

According to Midrash, the mother of King Lemuel/Solomon, who admonished her son with the words of the poem in Proverbs 31.

Rabbi Sandy Eisenberg Sasso

An author who wrote the book "Midrash: Reading the Bible with Question Marks" to introduce readers to the Midrash tradition.

Shari Wagner

The author of this article, who was previously the literature faculty member for a program in Indianapolis that invited artists to create their own "midrash" inspired by biblical texts.

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What they’re saying

“Midrash, whether ancient or contemporary, provides missing information and reveals new perspectives. It makes sense of contradictions and connects scripture to current times. It views the biblical text as multi­layered, with no single interpretation. It sees the text as the beginning of a conversation instead of the final word. It considers God's revelation ongoing, not restricted to the distant past.”

— Shari Wagner, Author (anabaptistworld.org)

“A tree can stay alive only if it grows. So it is with all tradition — it stays alive by growing and changing. To reinterpret Torah is to add new twigs and leaves to the Tree of Life.”

— Alicia Ostriker, Poet (anabaptistworld.org)

What’s next

The article encourages readers to engage in the practice of Midrash themselves, by reading biblical passages and asking what perspectives or stories have been left out, and then creatively imagining those overlooked narratives.

The takeaway

The Midrash tradition demonstrates the power of giving voice to the voiceless and exploring alternative perspectives on sacred texts. This approach can inspire new artistic and literary works that shed light on timeless human experiences and connect ancient stories to modern-day concerns.