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388. 3. Rabbi Gamliel, R. Eliezer, Rabbi Joshua travellingwere hospitably received by a man. At the table he firstcarried every dish into an adjoining room. They askedhim what it meant and whether he bewitched the food.He replied that in the adjoining room lived his father whohad taken an oath never to leave it before he had seen some ofthe Jewish sages. Told that they were the sages, the fatherexplained that the son had been married for twelve yearsbut had been bewitched and therefore had no child. Hebegged the sages to save him. Rabbi Joshua asked forsome black seed; he sowed it there, it grew up at once;he pulled out the stalks and a woman came up. He gothold of her by her locks and asked her to break the spell.She replied that she had sunk it into the depths of the sea.No one present saw the witch but they heard the conver-sation. Rabbi Joshua conjured up the demon of the seawho cast up the spell. A year afterwards a child was bornand this was Judah ben Batira.

4. Story of how Ashmedai took the place of Solomon butwas afterwards discovered. See No. 114.

5. David, the Philistine giant and Abishai b. Zeruya.See No. 156.

389. 6. Story of Koraḥ. 300 mules carried the keys tohis treasures all taken from one of the three towers filledby Joseph for Pharoah. His own children had nothing.Second tower treasure house was found by Antoninus; thirdreserved for the Messiah. Dispute with Moses and Aaronthrough strict application of priestly claims to a widow'slamb. Final punishment of Korah. Fell through takingpride in his immense wealth.

390. 7. A hunter once caught a bird, which spoke witha human voice. It asked the hunter to let it free, sayingit would teach him three wise things,( 1)" Rue not a thingthat is past.( 2) Never believe what is beyond belief.( 3) Never try to reach the unattainable. The hunter letthe bird free. It flew on the top of a tree and said," I havein me a pearl, worth a thousand dinars." The man started