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learned from him how careful Rabbis were. At his adviceHerold rebuilt the Temple.

251 f. 172a. Judith Legend. Short story of Judith whokilled Holephernes by a ruse and delivered Jerusalem.

252 f. 173b. King Manasseh repented when placed insidea brass bull in a furnace, and was saved by God, who hadmade a hole under His Throne to allow Manasseh's prayerto ascend, the angels having stopped all other access.

253 f. 174a. Repentance of Elazar b. Dordaya who wentto a base woman, and by accident was reminded of hissinful and forlorn life. He repented, asking Heaven andearth to plead for him. In the end he died in tears, his re-pentance accepted.

254 f. 175a. Power of repentance. Story of Rabbi Simeonb. Lakish and his two former robber companions. Herepented, fasted, prayed and gave charity. They continuedrobbing. After death he went to Paradise, they to Hell.They saw him and asked if God were partial. God replied:" He repented." They were then willing to repent butwere told," It is too late to do so after death."

255 f. 175 b. King Janai was brought before the tribunalof Shimeon b. Shetaḥ, since one of his attendants had commit-ted murder. The colleagues of Shimeon b. Shetaḥ were afraidto judge and were punished for it by the angel Gabriel.256 f. 176a. Two astrologers were sent to Rabbi Gamlielin Usha to study Jewish Law. They did so and foundeverything excellent, except some minor legal prescriptions.

257 f. 176a. Rabbi Akiba offered his pupils firstly a dishhalf- cooked. This was only partaken of by a fool: after-wards a well- cooked dish was brought which was eatenby the wise. The rabbi did this to test their characters.258 f. 176b. Rabbi Akiba followed Rabbi Joshua to hisprivacy, only to learn good manners from him.

259 f. 176b. Man should not be hasty nor angry. Hillel's wifegave all the dinner to a poor man, to be used as his daughter'swedding feast, and kept Hillel and his guest waiting untilshe had another ready. Hillel never lost his temper.