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attendant who had been killed. When Hanina saw what hadhappened, he prayed to God and the attendant came to lifeagain. The King was greatly astonished and said," It is wonder-ful that even the smallest amongst you is able to bring thedead to life." Once Antoninus asked the Rabbi what he shoulddo since he wanted his son to be his successor and he alsowished to exempt Tiberias from taxes for one year, and butit was not lawful to promulgate two decrees within one year.R. Jehuda placed one man on the shoulders of another andgave him a bird which he was to let fly, thereby suggestingthat the king's son should promulgate the decree freeing thepeople from taxes. Another time Antoninus asked him whathe should do to prevent the nobles from rebelling againsthim, and the Rabbi took him to the garden and every daypulled out one plant. Another time he wanted to know whathe should do with his daughter who had misbehaved herself,and the Rabbi sent him a plant the name of which meant" spare her," and this was the way in which they used tocommunicate with one another.

( 150.) 149. R. Jehuda ha- Nassi showed Antoninus bymetaphor how to fill his empty treasuries; he should uprootold trees and plant new ones,( dismiss old governors andappoint new ones instead).

( 151.) 150. R. Akiba used to say," Whatever God doesis done for the best." Once when he was travelling hehad with him a lamp, an ass and a cock. Coming to aplace where he was refused shelter, he encamped a shortdistance from the town. The wind came and blew out hislamp but he said," What God does is done for the best."Then a lion came and devoured his ass, and a catstrangled the cock, but he constantly repeated," WhatGod does is done for the best." In the morning he cameagain to the town and found it completely devastatedby robbers, so he saw how mercifully he had been spared.The light of the lamp, the braying of the ass and thecrowing of the cock would have attracted the attentionof the robbers.