TRUST IN GOD.
P.313
-----------------------------------
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 afterwards 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 know-
ledge of preparing the show-bread used in the services ot
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
1 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
-------------------------
p. 314
-------------------------------
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."
But still the Rabbi entreated:
"I will neither trouble nor question thee," he said;
"only let me accompany thee on thy way."
"Come, then," said Elijah; "but let thy tongue be mute.
With thy first question, thy first expression of astonishment,
we must part company."
So the two journeyed through the world together. They
approached the house of a poor man, whose only treasure
and means of support was a cow. As they came near, the
man and his wife hastened to meet them, begged them to
enter their cot, and eat and drink of the best they could
afford, and to pass the night under their roof. This they
did, receiving every attention from their poor but hospitable
host and hostess. In the morning Elijah rose up early
and prayed to God, and when he had finished his prayer
behold the cow belonging to the poor people dropped dead.
Then the travellers continued on their joumey.
Much was Rabbi Jochanan perplexed. "Not only did
we neglect to pay them for their hospitality and generous
services, but his cow we have killed f and he said to Elijah,
"Why didst thou kill the cow of this good man, who"
"Peace," interrupted Elijah; "hear, see, and be silent I
If I answer thy questions we must part."
And they continued on their way together.
-----------------
P.315
-------------------
Towards evening they arrived at a large and imposing
mansion, the residence of a haughty and wealthy man.
They were coldly received; a piece of bread and a glass
of water were placed before them, but the master of the
house did not welcome or speak to them, and they remained
there during the night unnoticed. In the morning Elijah
remarked that a wall of the house required repairing, and
sending for a carpenter, he himself paid the money for the
repair, as a return, he said, for the hospitality they had
received.
Again was Rabbi Jochanan filled with wonder, but he
said naught, and they proceeded on their journey.
As the shades of night were falling they entered a city
which contained a large and imposing synagogue. As it
was the time of the evening service they entered and were
much pleased with the rich adornments, the velvet cushions,
and gilded carvings of the interior. After the completion
of the service, Elijah arose and called out aloud, "Who is
here willing to feed and lodge two poor men this night?"
none answered, and no respect was shown to the travelling
strangers. In the morning, however, Elijah re-entered the
synagogue, and shaking its members by the hands, he said,
"I hope that you may all become presidents."
Next evening the two entered another city, when the
Shamas (sexton) of the synagogue, came to meet them, and
notifying the members of his congregation of the coming of
two strangers, the best hotel of the place was opened to
them, and all vied in showing them attention and honour.
In the morning, on parting with them, Elijah said, " May
the Lord appoint over you but one president."
Jochanan could resist his curiosity no longer. "Tell
me," said he to Elijah, "tell me the meaning of all these
actions which I have witnessed. To those who have treated
---------------
P.316
---------------
us coldly thou hast uttered good wishes; to those who have
been gracious to us thou hast made no suitable return.
Even though we must part, I pray thee explain to me the
meaning of thy acts.".
"Listen," said Elijah, "and learn to trust in God, even
though thou canst not understand His ways. We first entered
the house of the poor man, who treated us so kindly. Know
that it had been decreed that on that very day his wife
should die. I prayed unto the Lord that the cow might
prove a redemption for her; God granted my prayers, and
the woman was preserved unto her husband. The rich man,
whom next we called up, treated us coldly, and I repaired
his wall . I repaired it without a new foundation, without
digging to the old one. Had he repaired it himself he
would have dug, and thus discovered a treasure which lies
there buried, but which is now for ever lost to him. To
the members of the synagogue who were inhospitable I said,
'May you all be presidents,' and where many rule there can
be no peace; but to the others I said, ' May you have but
one presidentwith one leader no misunderstanding may
arise. Now, if thou seest the wicked prospering, be not
envious; if thou seest the righteous in poverty and trouble,
be not provoked or doubtful of God's justice. The Lord
is righteous, His judgments all are true; His eyes note all
mankind, and none can say, 'What dost thou ?'"
With these words Elijah disappeared, and Jochanan was
left alone.
Main Link
P.313
-----------------------------------
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 afterwards 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 know-
ledge of preparing the show-bread used in the services ot
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
1 man earns is his own, and cannot be taken away.
Trust in God.
Rabbi Jochanan, the son of Levi, fasted and prayed to
the Lord that he might be permitted to gaze on the angel
-------------------------
p. 314
-------------------------------
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."
But still the Rabbi entreated:
"I will neither trouble nor question thee," he said;
"only let me accompany thee on thy way."
"Come, then," said Elijah; "but let thy tongue be mute.
With thy first question, thy first expression of astonishment,
we must part company."
So the two journeyed through the world together. They
approached the house of a poor man, whose only treasure
and means of support was a cow. As they came near, the
man and his wife hastened to meet them, begged them to
enter their cot, and eat and drink of the best they could
afford, and to pass the night under their roof. This they
did, receiving every attention from their poor but hospitable
host and hostess. In the morning Elijah rose up early
and prayed to God, and when he had finished his prayer
behold the cow belonging to the poor people dropped dead.
Then the travellers continued on their joumey.
Much was Rabbi Jochanan perplexed. "Not only did
we neglect to pay them for their hospitality and generous
services, but his cow we have killed f and he said to Elijah,
"Why didst thou kill the cow of this good man, who"
"Peace," interrupted Elijah; "hear, see, and be silent I
If I answer thy questions we must part."
And they continued on their way together.
-----------------
P.315
-------------------
Towards evening they arrived at a large and imposing
mansion, the residence of a haughty and wealthy man.
They were coldly received; a piece of bread and a glass
of water were placed before them, but the master of the
house did not welcome or speak to them, and they remained
there during the night unnoticed. In the morning Elijah
remarked that a wall of the house required repairing, and
sending for a carpenter, he himself paid the money for the
repair, as a return, he said, for the hospitality they had
received.
Again was Rabbi Jochanan filled with wonder, but he
said naught, and they proceeded on their journey.
As the shades of night were falling they entered a city
which contained a large and imposing synagogue. As it
was the time of the evening service they entered and were
much pleased with the rich adornments, the velvet cushions,
and gilded carvings of the interior. After the completion
of the service, Elijah arose and called out aloud, "Who is
here willing to feed and lodge two poor men this night?"
none answered, and no respect was shown to the travelling
strangers. In the morning, however, Elijah re-entered the
synagogue, and shaking its members by the hands, he said,
"I hope that you may all become presidents."
Next evening the two entered another city, when the
Shamas (sexton) of the synagogue, came to meet them, and
notifying the members of his congregation of the coming of
two strangers, the best hotel of the place was opened to
them, and all vied in showing them attention and honour.
In the morning, on parting with them, Elijah said, " May
the Lord appoint over you but one president."
Jochanan could resist his curiosity no longer. "Tell
me," said he to Elijah, "tell me the meaning of all these
actions which I have witnessed. To those who have treated
---------------
P.316
---------------
us coldly thou hast uttered good wishes; to those who have
been gracious to us thou hast made no suitable return.
Even though we must part, I pray thee explain to me the
meaning of thy acts.".
"Listen," said Elijah, "and learn to trust in God, even
though thou canst not understand His ways. We first entered
the house of the poor man, who treated us so kindly. Know
that it had been decreed that on that very day his wife
should die. I prayed unto the Lord that the cow might
prove a redemption for her; God granted my prayers, and
the woman was preserved unto her husband. The rich man,
whom next we called up, treated us coldly, and I repaired
his wall . I repaired it without a new foundation, without
digging to the old one. Had he repaired it himself he
would have dug, and thus discovered a treasure which lies
there buried, but which is now for ever lost to him. To
the members of the synagogue who were inhospitable I said,
'May you all be presidents,' and where many rule there can
be no peace; but to the others I said, ' May you have but
one presidentwith one leader no misunderstanding may
arise. Now, if thou seest the wicked prospering, be not
envious; if thou seest the righteous in poverty and trouble,
be not provoked or doubtful of God's justice. The Lord
is righteous, His judgments all are true; His eyes note all
mankind, and none can say, 'What dost thou ?'"
With these words Elijah disappeared, and Jochanan was
left alone.
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