Joh751487

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it was destined and he replied that it was for Joseph theGardener in Askalon. After the festival, they went to thattown, told him about the luminous shirt and mentionedthat the seam was not complete. He told them that he hadbeen rich, had spent his father's money and now lived onthe produce of his garden which he divided with the poor.The wife, having heard the conversation, asked him to sellher as a slave, promising to keep faithful and she told himto give away the money he received in alms so as to completethe shirt. He did so but she refused to obey the will ofher master, who handed her over to his shepherd who ill-treated her. After a time her husband came and tried totempt her. She indignantly refused, then he made himselfknown, having found her faithful, and a voice was heardfrom heaven saying," Thy shirt is complete, but a morebeautiful one is awaiting thy wife. Go to a certain placeand there you will find a treasure which thy father hashidden away." He did so, ransomed his wife and they con-tinued to give alms to the poor.

411[ f. 15a]. The wife of Rab always prepared the reverseof what her husband asked, for instance, beans instead oflentils, etc. Her son, R. Hiya, growing up, noticed herdisposition and told her the reverse of his father's wishes.She then prepared exactly what her husband wished. Rabwas greatly surprised at the change; his son explained thereason and the father asked his son to discontinue lest heaccustomed himself to tell untruths.

412[ f. 16a]. A woman, pretending to be very pious, was,however, a witch who prevented women from giving birth.She used to come to the women in travail and say shewould pray for them. Then she would go home and removethe spell and the women were easily delivered. One dayshe left a boy in the house, who heard a noise from acask in the corner. He lifted the top and he found the spellswhich were thus broken. The people thus discovered herwitchcraft and drove her from the town.