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trona then ordered a number of male slaves to marry femaleslaves, thinking that she could do the same as God. Thenext morning they returned, one with the head broken,one with the eyes scratched and so on, and she re-cognised that God knows better how to match them. TheRabbi also told her that God makes ladders, one to go upand the other to go down, to become poor and to become rich.17. A Matrona asked," Why is the letter Lamed higher thanthe others?" He replied" Because it is the herald andthe herald must stand higher."

18. Kleopatra asks Rabbi Meir whether the dead rise intheir clothes. The reply was" In their clothes. The wheat,when sown grows with the cover( husks) on, and how muchmore should the dead rise with their covers on?"

19. The wicked kingdom once decreed that the Jews shouldnot keep the Sabbath, nor circumcise their children, norkeep the law of purification according to the Bible. Reubenthe son of Astrobolus disguised as a counsellor frustratedthe decree. He said:" We want them to become poor andthen to prevent them working one day( Sabbath). If theyare to be weak then let their children be circumcised andif they are to diminish in number let them keep thelaw of purification." After a time they recognised that hehad been a Jew and they renewed the decree. Two sageswent as messengers, one Eleazar the son of Joseph and theother Simon bar Temalion. A demon entered the daughterof the Emperor and he left her at their bidding. As areward they were allowed to tear up the decree.

20. The Jews being prevented by decree from studying,Pappos met R. Akiba who had defied that decree. Rebukedby Pappos Akiba replied:" A fox on the shore of the sea sawsome fish hiding from the nets and hooks. He asked themto come to the dry land to dwell with him. They replied:" Art thou the clever, cunning animal? If in this placewhere we live we are not safe, how much more are we sureto die on dry land. So with us. If we give up the study ofthe law we are sure to die." Shortly afterwards both met