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of the news that he had been condemned to death by firefor studying the Law he quoted the verse Deut. 32. 4. Thewife then asked what punishment was decreed for her andthey answered" Death by the sword." To the daughter theysaid that she was to work on the Sabbath. For each ofthese they found appropriate verses in the Bible in acknow-ledgement of God's righteous judgment. When R. Ḥananyawas brought out to be burned his daughter cried becausehe was condemned to be burned and he said," Is it notbetter that I should be burned in a fire that can be blownout than in the Eternal Fire?" And she said," I cry also forthe Law which is burned with thee." And he replied," TheLaw is fire and fire never consumes fire; the parchmentmay burn but the words will float on the air. He who willarise in the days to come will visit my blood upon theheads of these men end punish them for the persecution ofthe Law."
68. Juda b. Baba was pierced to death whilst found or-daining five elders against the decree of Rome: R. Jehuda,R. Simeon, R. Eleazar b. Shamua( and R. Avaye addsR. Nehemya).
69. Doeg b. Josef died of starvation in Jerusalem when itwas besieged by the Romans, though offering a measure ofgold for food. His wife devoured her only child whose weightin gold she used to bring as a yearly offering to the Temple,70. The story of Kamşa and bar Kamşa and the fall ofJerusalem. A man had company and had invited Bar Kamşawho was his enemy, by mistake. He afterwards turned himout in spite of his offer to pay all the expenses of the feastrather than be put to shame. Then Bar Kamşa went anddenounced the Jews to the Emperor as having rebelled and asproof he asserted that they would refuse to accept an offeringsent to the Temple. A lamb was sent which he mutilated onthe way, in a manner not offensive to the Roman sacrificiallaws but contrary to those of the Jews. For the sake ofpeace the Jews were inclined to offer it up, but Zachariahb. Abqulos prevented it as being contrary to the law. Le-
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