It is first quoted by Rashi, who calls it by several names: "Midrash Shmuel",[1] "Aggadat Midrash Shmuel",[2] "Aggadah deShmuel",[3] and
"Midrash 'Et la-'Asot la-Adonai"[4] - the last name probably derived from Psalms 119:126, with which the midrash begins. It is also called "Aggadat Shmu'el".[5] The name "Shocher Tov" has been erroneously given to it,[6] the error is because in the Venice edition of 1546 the midrash was printed together with Midrash Tehillim, whose title "Shocher Tov" was taken to refer to both works.
Contents of the midrash
The midrash is divided into 32 chapters. Chapters 1-24 cover
II Samuel
.
The midrash contains
aggadic midrashim in diction and in style; in fact, it is a collection of teachings found in such midrashim and referring to the books of Samuel. The editor arranged the teachings in the sequence of the Scripture passages to which they refer. The midrash, however, does not entirely cover the Biblical books; but as it contains all the passages quoted from it by other authorities, it may be assumed that (with two exceptions added by later copyists: chapter 4:1[7] and chapter 32:3 et seq.[8]
) it never contained any more than it does now, and that its present form is that into which it was cast by its compiler.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Singer, Isidore; et al., eds. (1901–1906). "MIDRASH TO SAMUEL". The Jewish Encyclopedia. New York: Funk & Wagnalls.. The JE cites the following works:
