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became changed into a lion, and slew 70,000 men, but sparedthe king at his entreaty. The king then revoked the evildecrees, and Israel rejoiced.

345( 7). Cruel decrees against Jews. Maimonides sat inthe market place of the city, and promised to heal anyonewhom all the other physicians had failed to heal. He healedKing and was greatly honoured. The Vice- regent, who wasgreatly beloved by King, hated Maimonides and asked forhis death. The King was perplexed because he had pro-mised Maimonides not to harm him, but the Vice- regentadvised him to have Maimonides thrown into the limekiln andburnt. The man in charge was told to kill the first manwho came from the king. Maimonides himself was sent totell the man simply to perform the command of the king.But passing a Synagogue, he went in and prayed, and thenwent to the Feast of the Circumcision at a poor man'shouse. Afterwards he delivered the message of the king,but the Vice- regent anticipated him unknowingly and wasfound burnt when Maimonides arrived. The king confessedthe might of the God of Israel.

( v. above No. 320.)

346( 8). Rabbi Abraham b. Ezra wanted to know whowas his equal in the world, and was told Maimonides. Hewent to the town, entered a garden, ate cucumbers, and lefta knife there. He then knocked at the door of Maimonides'shouse, but the servants told him that he was out. He ans-wered," I see him in the house, preparing a recipe for theking." Maimonides replied, telling him of the cucumbersand the knife left in the garden but that it was impossibleto see him then. Ben Ezra returned later and was receivedby Maimonides. He asked Maimonides to say that he washis brother. The king invited both to court, and asked BenEzra his business. He replied that his business was to buypearls. A poor Jew brought three pearls for sale. BenEzra claimed them as his own, but the Jew protested. Theybrought the dispute before the King, who decided that thepearls belonged to him who knew their quality. The poor