"It is not in my power. I rode upon horseback once on the Day of
Atonement; yea, when it fell upon the Sabbath, and when I passed the
synagogue I heard a voice crying, 'Return, oh backsliding children,
return to me and I will return to ye; except Elishah, the son of Abuyah,
he knew his Master and yet rebelled against Him.'"
What caused such a learned man as Elishah to turn to evil ways?
It is reported that once while studying the law in the vale of Genusan,
he saw a man climbing a tree. The man found a bird's-nest in the tree,
and taking the mother with the young ones he still departed in peace. He
saw another man who finding a bird's-nest followed the Bible's command
and took the young only, allowing the mother to fly away; and yet a
serpent stung him as he descended, and he died. "Now," thought he,
"where is the Bible's truth and promises? Is it not written, 'And the
young thou mayest take to thyself, but the mother thou shalt surely let
go, that it may be well with thee and that thou mayest live many days.'
Now, where is the long life to this man who followed the precept, while
the one who transgressed it is unhurt?"
He had not heard how Rabbi Akiba expounded this verse, that the days
would be long in the future world where all is happiness.
There is also another reason given as the cause for Elishah's
backsliding and apostacy.
During the fearful period of religious persecution, the learned Rabbi
Judah, whose life had been passed in the study of the law and the
practice of God's precepts, was delivered into the power of the cruel
torturer. His tongue was placed in a dog's mouth and the dog bit it off.
So Elishah said, "If a tongue which uttered naught but truth be so used,
and a learned, wise man be so treated, of what use is it to avoid having
a lying tongue and being ignorant. Lo, if these things are allowed,
there is surely no reward for the righteous, and no resurrection for the
dead."
When Elishah waxed old he was taken sick, and Rabbi Meir, learning of
the illness of his aged teacher, called upon him.
"Oh return, return unto thy God." entreated Rabbi Meir.
"What!" exclaimed Elishah, "return! and could He receive my penitence,
the penitence of an apostate who has so rebelled against Him?"
"Is it not written," said Meir, "'Thou turnest man to contrition?' No
matter how the soul of man may be crushed, he can still turn to his God
and find relief."
Elishah listened to these words, wept bitterly and died. Not many years
after his death his daughters came, poverty stricken, asking relief from
the colleges. "Remember," said they, "the merit of our father's
learning, not his conduct."
The colleges listened to the appeal and supported the daughters of
Elishah.
* * * * *
Rabbi Judah, Rabbi Joseh, and Rabbi Simon were conversing one day, when
Judah ben Gerim entered the apartment and sat down with the three. Rabbi
Judah was speaking in a complimentary strain of the Gentiles (Romans).
"See," said he, "how they have improved their cities, how beautiful they
have made them, and how much they have done for the comfort and
convenience of the citizens; bath-houses, bridges, fine broad streets,
surely much credit is due them."
"Nay," answered Rabbi Simon, "all that they have done has been from a
selfish motive. The bridges bring them in a revenue, for all who use
them are taxed; the bath-houses are for their personal adornment--'tis
all selfishness, not patriotism."
Judah ben Gerim repeated these remarks to his friends, and finally they
reached the ears of the emperor. He would not allow them to pass
unnoticed. He ordered that Judah, who had spoken well of the nation,
should be advanced in honor; that Joseh, who had remained silent instead
of seconding the assertions, should be banished to Zipore; and that
Simon, who had disputed the compliment, should be put to death.
The latter with his son fled and concealed himself in the college when
this fiat became known to him. For some time he remained there
comparatively safe, his wife bringing his meals daily. But when the
officers were directed to make diligent search he became afraid, lest
through the indiscretion of his wife his place of concealment might be
discovered.
"The mind of woman is weak and unsteady," said he, "perhaps they may
question and confuse her, and thus may death come upon me."
So leaving the city, Simon and his son took refuge in a lonely cave.
Near its mouth some fruit trees grew, supplying them with food, and a
spring of pure water bubbled from rocks in the immediate vicinity. For
thirteen years Rabbi Simon lived here, until the emperor died and his
decrees were repealed. He then returned to the city.
When Rabbi Phineas, his son-in-law, heard of his return, he called upon
him at once, and noticing an apparent neglect in the mental and physical
condition of his relative, he exclaimed, "Woe, woe! that I meet thee in
so sad a condition!"