During the first centuries of the Common Era, Judaism developed a rich oral tradition based on the Bible which was ultimately written down, edited, and compiled in bodies of literature known as the Mishnah, Talmud, and the Midrash. By interpreting the Bible, the early sages, known as rabbis, enabled Judaism to respond to new historical and social conditions.

These interpretive texts consist both of law (halakhah) and narrative (aggadah). The word halakhah is related to a verb meaning “to walk or to go.” The legal material provides a path for Jews to follow – a way of life. The word aggadah means “to tell.” Alongside the legal traditions, Judaism developed a rich body of narrative. Through narrative (aggadah) the Jewish imagination addresses philosophical, theological, and personal issues. For example, when the Bible tells the story of how Cain kills Abel, the aggadah wonders about the nature of the argument between the two brothers. When the Bible is silent about Moses living as a child in Pharaoh's palace, the aggadah wonders about what happens during those years and tells a story about how Moses came to be slow of speech.