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embittered the life of the Hebrews. Afterwards she bore a
son, and called him Aaron.
And it came to pass in the one hundred and thirtieth
year after Israel had entered Egypt, that Pharaoh, the king
of the land, dreamed that he was sitting on his throne, and
raising his eyes, saw before him an old man holding in his
hand a pair of large balances. The old man hung the
balances, and taking all the elders of Egypt, her princes and
officers, he bound them together and placed them on one
of the balances; on the other he placed a lamb, and lo, to
the wonder of the dreaming man, the lamb weighed heavier
than all the mighty men of Egypt.
Pharaoh awoke, and sending for his officers, he related to
them this dream, which caused them both fear and amaze-
ment. Now among the magicians of Egypt there was one
whom the king considered especially wise, Bil'am, the son
of Be'or. For him the king sent, and desired an explana-
tion of the vision. "A great evil will befall Egypt in the
latter days," replied Bil'am, the son of Be'or. "A son will
be born in Israel who will destroy Egypt, kill its inhabitants,
and carry his people out from among them. Now, oh lord
and king, give heed to this matter, and destroy the power
of the children of Israel and their future welfare, before this
misfortune to Egypt buds."
"What can we do?" inquired Pharaoh; "we have tried
many plans without success."
Bil'am answered, "Send for thy two nearest counsellors,
and we will consult together."
And Pharaoh sent for Re'uel, the Midianite, and Job, his
counsellors, and they appeared before him accordingly. Then
said the king, "Ye have all heard my dream and its inter-
pretation; now give me your advice; how may this people
Israel be conquered ere this threatened evil falls upon us?"
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THE TALMUD.
Re'uel, the Midianite, answered and said:
"Oh king, live for ever! If it be pleasing in thy eyes,
oh king, cease to afflict this people. They are the chosen
of God from the olden days, and never have they been
oppressed with impunity. Pharaoh of old was punished for
Sarah's sake, as was also Abimelech the Philistine, for the
same cause. Jacob was delivered from the toils both of
Esau, his brother, and his uncle, Laban. Thy great-
grandfather exalted their great-grandfather, Joseph, because
he recognised the wisdom which God had implanted in him,
and which saved the people of the land from starvation.
Therefore, oh king, remove thy yoke from them and let
them go hence to Canaan, the land of the sojournings of
their forefathers."
These words of Re'uel, the Midianite, angered Pharaoh,
and he sent him in shame from his presence. Re'uel went
out from Egypt that day unto his own country, carrying
with him the staff of Joseph.
The king then said to Job, his counsellor:
"What is thy opinion concerning these Hebrews?"
And Job answered:
"Are not all the inhabitants of Egypt in the hands of
the king? Whatever may be most pleasing in thy eyes, that do."
Then spoke Bi'lam, and said:
"None of the means proposed for the subduing of the
Hebrews will prove successful. Fire cannot prevail over
them, for Abraham was delivered from its power; the
sword will fail, for Isaac was delivered from its edge, and a
ram killed in his stead; they cannot be exterminated by
rigorous labour, for Jacob worked day and night for Laban,
and yet prospered. Listen, oh king, to the advice which I
shall give thee. By this means only wilt thou be able to
