92-

So he went in search of David but could not find him. Thenhe took the mule which sprang like lightning over 400 milesand brought him to the place. Orpah, the mother of Yishbi,who was sitting on the wall of the town saw him comingand she said," This man is coming to save David." And shewanted to throw the wheel of her spindle at him but shecould not reach it. Her servant said," Give me the spindleand I will throw it." She took the spindle and killed the oldwoman with it. When Yishbi saw Abishai coming, he tookDavid and threw him up in the air 3 miles high and plantedhis spear in the earth, point upwards, for David to fall upon it.Abishai then pronounced the Ineffable Name of God and Davidremained suspended in the air. Abishai asked him how hecame to be in such a position and David explained that inanswer to God he had preferred to fall into the hands of theenemy rather than reign without issue. Abishai prayed to Godfor him, caught hold of David and took him away. Yishbipursued them and when they reached Kobi, they criedout," Stand up!" When they came to Yitri they said" Go and tell thy dead Mother Orpah the two whelpshave killed the lion?" When Yishbi heard that he losthis strength and was overpowered by the two and killed.When the Israelites learned of the danger in which Davidhad placed himself they would no longer allow him to goout alone.

( 157.) 156. When God created the world the lower watersof the abyss tried to ascend to the heavens. So He made astone, engraved thereon His Holy Name in 48 different forms,and stopped therewith the mouth of the abyss. When Davidlaid the foundation of the Temple he dug the earth 15,000cubits deep when he reached that very stone. Not knowingwhat it really was he tried to remove it, when a voice said," Beware lest thou destroy the world, for the waters willflood it." He did not heed the voice, but dug up the stone;the engraved Name disappeared and the stone becamelike a clod of earth in his hands and the waters beganto mount up. David prayed but he was not heard, and