Once upon a time some Jews lived in Hebron, few in number, but pious
and good, and particularly hospitable. When strangers came to the Cave
of Machpelah to pray there, the inhabitants of the place fairly
quarrelled with each other for the privilege of entertaining the
guests, and the one who carried off the victory rejoiced as though he
had found great spoil.
On the eve of the Day of Atonement, it appeared that, in spite of all
their efforts, the dwellers at Hebron could not secure the tenth man
needed for public Divine service, and they feared they would have none
on the holy day. Toward evening, when the sun was about to sink, they
descried an old man with silver white beard, bearing a sack upon his
shoulder, his raiment tattered, and his feet badly swollen from much
walking. They ran to meet him, took him to one of the houses, gave him
food and drink, and, after supplying him with new white garments, they
all together went to the synagogue for worship. Asked what his name
was, the stranger replied, Abraham.
At the end of the fast, the residents of Hebron cast lots for the
privilege of entertaining the guest. Fortune favored the beadle, who,
the envy of the rest, bore his guest away to his house. On the way, he
suddenly disappeared, and the beadle could not find him anywhere. In
vain all the Jews of the place went on a quest for him. Their sleepless
night, spent in searching, had no result. The stranger could not be
found. But no sooner had the beadle lain down, toward morning, weary
and anxious, to snatch some sleep, than he saw the lost guest before
him, his face luminous as lightning, and his garments magnificent and
studded with gems radiant as the sun. Before the beadle, stunned by
fright, could open his mouth, the stranger spake, and said: "I am
Abraham the Hebrew, your ancestor, who rests here in the Cave of
Machpelah. When I saw how grieved you were at not having the number of
men prescribed for a public service, I came forth to you. Have no fear!
Rejoice and be merry of heart!"[319]
On another occasion Abraham granted his assistance to the people of
Hebron. The lord of the city was a heartless man, who oppressed the
Jews sorely. One day he commanded them to pay a large sum of money into
his coffers, the whole sum in uniform coins, all stamped with the same
year. It was but a pretext to kill the Jews. He knew that his demand
was impossible of fulfilment.
The Jews proclaimed a fast and day of public prayer, on which to
supplicate God that He turn aside the sword suspended above them. The
night following, the beadle in a dream saw an awe-inspiring old man,
who addressed him in the following words: "Up, quickly! Hasten to the
gate of the court, where lies the money you need. I am your father
Abraham. I have beheld the affliction wherewith the Gentiles oppress
you, but God has heard your groans." In great terror the beadle arose,
but he saw no one, yet he went to the spot designated by the vision,
and he found the money and took it to the congregation, telling his
dream at the same time. Amazed, they counted the gold, precisely the
amount required of them by the prince, no more and no less. They
surrendered the sum to him, and he who had considered compliance with
his demand impossible, recognized now that God is with the Jews, and
thenceforth they found favor in his eyes.[320]
VI
JACOB