ate paces, and that is
a Sabbath day's journey.

_Eiruvin_, fol. 42, col. 1.

Rabbon Gamliel had a hollow tube, through which, when he looked, he
could distinguish a distance of two thousand cubits, whether by land or
sea. By the same tube he could ascertain the depth of a valley or the
height of a palm tree.

Ibid., fol. 43, col. 2.

He who observes carefully the precepts respecting fringes will, as a
reward, have two thousand eight hundred slaves to wait upon him; for it
is said (Zech. viii. 23), "Thus saith the Lord of hosts; In those days
it shall come to pass that ten men shall take hold out of all languages
of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew,
saying, We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you."

_Shabbath_, fol. 32, col. 2.

Rashi's explanation of this matter is very simple. The merit of
the fringes lies in their being duly attached to "the four
quarters" or skirts of the garments (Deut. xxii. 12). There are
seventy nations in the whole world, and ten of each nation will
take hold of each corner of the garment, which gives 70 x 10 x 4
= 2800. Rabbi B'chai, commenting on Num. xv. 39, 40, repeats the
same story almost word for word.

This passage (Zech. viii. 23) has lately been construed by some
into a prophecy of the recent Berlin Congress, and the ten men
mentioned are found in the representatives of the contracting
parties, i.e., England, France, Germany, Turkey, Russia,
Austria, Italy, Greece, Roumania, and Servia.

Rav Hamnunah said, "What is it that is written (1 Kings iv. 32), 'And he
spoke three thousand proverbs, and his songs were a thousand and five'?"
It is intended to teach that Solomon uttered three thousand proverbs
upon each and every word of the law, and for every word of the Scribes
he assigned a thousand and five reasons.

_Eiruvin_, fol. 21, col. 2.

When Rabbi Eliezer was sick he was visited by Rabbi Akiva and his
party.... "Wherefore have ye come?" he asked. "To learn the law," was
the reply. "And why did you not come sooner?" "Because we had no
leisure," said they. "I shall be much surprised," said he, "if you die a
natural death." Then turning to Rabbi Akiva he said, "Thy death shall be
the worst of all." Then folding his arms upon his breast, he exclaimed:
"Woe unto my two arms! for they are like two scrolls of the law rolled
up, so that their contents are hidden. Had they waite