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242 f. 165 a. Story of Pharaoh who dreamt of a lambon one side of a pair of scales' outweighing all the mightand riches of Egypt. His sorcerers explained the dream tomean that a child would be born who would destroy thepower of Egypt( Moses). They advised the drowning of thenew- born males of Israel, saying they foresaw that hisdeath would come through water.

They knew not that the" water" refered to the" Watersof Strife."

243 f. 165 b. Story of Moses' and Aaron's delivering toPharaoh the message from God and of their explaningwho the Sender was.[ Two versions.]

244 f. 165 b. The tale of the ass who was appointedtoll- gatherer. A lion and fox passed by and the lion killedthe ass for asking him to pay toll. The fox ate the heartof the ass. The lion asked for it but the fox replied thatthe ass could not have had any as he was such a fool asto ask toll of a lion.

245. Death of R. Akiba in prison. Elijah broughtR. Joshua ha- Garsi to the place and carried the body toa cavern where there was a bed, a table and a candleready.

246 f. 169a. Solomon after his fall was well treated bythe rich and yet made miserable since they reminded himthat he had fallen. But when treated by the poor to smallfare he was consoled.

247. Justina, the daughter of Asverus, married at six,and had a child at seven years old. The sages remark thatone cannot have a child before eleven.

248. R. Akiba refused to allow a girl three years oldto be considered fit for priestly purity in view of peculiarcircumstances.

249. R. Akiba declared a woman with" Kethem" to be pure.250 f. 170 b. Story of Herod and the Hasmonaean princess( Mariamne). She killed herself and he kept her body preservedin honey for seven years and he slew all the Rabbis exceptBaba b. Bita who was blind. He visited him secretly and