said, "Why should I continue this useless labor? I put the water in one
side and it immediately leaks out of the other; what profit is it?"

The other workman, who was wise, replied, "We have the profit of the
reward which we receive for our labor."

It is the same in studying the law. One man says, "What does it profit
me to study the law when I must ever continue it or else forget what I
have learned." But the other man replies, "God will reward us for the
will which we display even though we do forget."

Rabbi Ze-irah has said that even a single letter in the law which we
might deem of no importance, if wanting, would neutralize the whole law.
In Deuteronomy 22:17, we read, "Neither shall he take to himself many
wives, that his heart may turn away." Solomon transgressed this precept,
and it is said by Rabbi Simon that the angels took note of his ill-doing
and addressed the Deity: "Sovereign of the world, Solomon has made Thy
law even as a law liable to change and diminution. Three precepts he has
disregarded, namely, 'He shall not acquire for himself many horses';
'neither shall he take to himself many wives'; 'nor shall he acquire to
himself too much silver and gold.'" Then the Lord replied, "Solomon will
perish from the earth; aye, and a hundred Solomons after him, and yet
the smallest letter of the law shall not be dispensed with."

* * * * *

The Rabbis have often applied in a figurative sense, various passages of
Holy Writ, among others the opening verse of the 55th chapter of Isaiah.
"Ho, every one of ye that thirsteth, come ye to the water, and he, too,
that hath no money; come ye, buy and eat; yea, come, buy without money
and without price, wine and milk."

The three liquids which men are thus urged to procure are considered by
the sages of Israel as typical of the law.

One Rabbi asked, "Why is the word of God compared to water?"

To this question the following answer was returned: "As water runs down
from an eminence (the mountains), and rests in a low place (the sea), so
the law, emanating from Heaven, can remain in the possession of those
only who are humble in spirit."

Another Rabbi inquired, "Wherefore has the Word of God been likened to
wine and milk?" The reply made was, "As these fluids cannot be preserved
in golden vessels, but only in those of earthenware, so those minds will
be the best receptacles of learning which are found in homely bodies."

Rabbi Jos