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claimed double portion of inheritance. Brought before So-lomon. Sanhedrin could not decide. Solomon prayed to Godand next morning ordered hot water and strong wine to thebrought. Sprinkled one head with hot water and gave theother to drink of the wine. Both suffered pain and bothgot drunk, and the man confessed that both were one andgot only a seventh part of the inheritance.( Variant ofNo. 113.)

393. 12. Rabbi Joshua b. Levi and the prophet Elijahtravelled together although the prophet said R. Joshua wouldsee things which he would not understand. The first nightthey slept at a poor man's house where they were very welltreated. The prophet killed the only cow. R. Joshua doubtedwhether it was proper but the prophet replied," If you ask,I am leaving you." On the second night, they went to arich man's house; he was engaged in building and ignoredthem. In the night the prophet built up a mighty palace.On the third night they came to a place full of rich menwho treated them churlishly. The prophet wished them tobe all chiefs. On the fourth night they came to a place ofpoor people who treated them with great honour. In themorning Elijah wished that they should have only onechief. R. Joshua insisted upon an explanation. Elijah said," If I answer I disappear." He killed the cow as substitutefor the woman destined to die that night. If the rich manhad dug the ground, he would have found a tremendous trea-sure. The building he had erected would soon fall downand the man would never get the money. As for the thirdcase, if they were all chiefs, they would be constantlyquarrelling but with one chief the community would prosper.He then disappeared.( Variant of No. 301.)

394. 13. Rabbi Meir once left synagogue earlier thanusual. Wonder at the reason. He had overheard a snakesaying," I am sent to kill R. Judah the Antoti and hiswhole family because has never given alms." R. Meirran ahead, met the snake by the river, conjured it not tocross it until allowed, covered his face, came to the house,

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