"All my bones shall say, O Lord, who is like unto Thee."
* * * * *
The Israelites were commanded to visit Jerusalem on three festivals. It
happened upon one occasion that there was a scarcity of water in the
city. One of the people called upon a certain nobleman who was the owner
of three wells, and asked him for the use of the water which they
contained, promising that they should be refilled by a stated date, and
contracting in default of this to pay a certain large amount in silver
as forfeit. The day came, there had been no rain, and the three wells
were dry. In the morning the owner of the wells sent for the promised
money. Nakdemon, the son of Gurion, the man who had undertaken this
burden for his people's sake, replied, "The day is but begun; there is
yet time."
He entered the Temple and prayed that God might send rain and save him
all his fortune which he had ventured. His prayer was answered. The
clouds gathered and the rain fell. As he passed out of the Temple with a
grateful heart, he was met by his creditor, who said:--
"True, the rain has refilled my wells, but it is dark; the day has gone,
and according to our agreement thou must still pay me the promised sum."
Once more Nakdemon prayed, and lo, the clouds lifted and the sinking sun
smiled brightly on the spot where the men stood, showing that the
sunlight of day was still there, though the rain-clouds had temporarily
obscured its gleams.
* * * * *
There was a certain family, the family of Abtinoss, the members of which
were learned in the art of preparing the incense used in the service.
Their knowledge they refused to impart to others, and the directors of
the Temple, fearing that the art might die with them, discharged them
from the service, and brought other parties from Alexandria, in Egypt,
to prepare the sweet perfume. These latter were unable to afford
satisfaction, however, and the directors were obliged to give the
service back into the hands of the family of Abtinoss, who on their part
refused to accept it again, unless the remuneration for their services
was doubled. When asked why they so persistently refused to impart their
skill to others, they replied that they feared they might teach some
unworthy persons, who would afterward use their knowledge in an
idolatrous worship. The members of this family were very particular not
to use perfume of any kind themselves, lest the people should imagine
that they put the sweet spices used in the manufacture of the incense to
a baser use.
An exactly similar case to the above occurred with the family of Garmah,
which had the monopoly of the knowledge of preparing the show-bread used
in the services of the Temple.
It was in reference to these cases that the son of Azai said, "In thy
name they shall call thee, and in thy city they shall cause thee to
live, and from thy own they will give thee," meaning that trustful
persons should not fear that others might steal their occupations; "for
in thy name they will call thee," as with the families of Abtinoss and
Garmah; "and from thy own they will give thee," meaning that what a man
earns is his own, and cannot be taken away.
* * * * *
Rabbi Jochanan, the son of Levi, fasted and prayed to the Lord that he
might be permitted to gaze on the angel Elijah, he who had ascended
alive to heaven. God granted his prayer, and in the semblance of a man
Elijah appeared before him.
"Let me journey with thee in thy travels through the world," prayed the
Rabbi to Elijah; "let me observe thy doings, and gain in wisdom and
understanding."
"Nay," answered Elijah; "my actions thou couldst not understand; my
doings would trouble thee, being beyond thy comprehension."