fe and death." "Weep not, on the contrary be glad therefor,"
he answered. "If his wine did not grow sour, if his flag was not
stricken down, I might think that on earth he received the reward of his
righteousness; but now that I see my teacher suffering for what evil he
may have committed in this world, I rejoice. He hath taught us that the
most righteous among us commit some sin, therefore in the world to come
he will have peace."

* * * * *

While Rabbi Eleazer was sick, the four elders, Rabbi Tarphon, Rabbi
Joshua, Rabbi Eleazer, the son of Azoria, and Rabbi Akiba, called upon
him.

"Thou art better to Israel than the raindrops to earth, or the raindrops
are for this world only, while thou, my teacher, have helped the
ripening of fruit for this world and the next," said Rabbi Tarphon.

"Thou art better to Israel than the sun, for the sun is for this world
alone; thou hast given light for this world and the next," said Rabbi
Joshua.

Then spoke Rabbi Eleazer, the son of Azoria:--

"Thou art better to Israel," said he, "than father and mother to man.
They bring him into the world, but thou, my teacher, showest him the way
into the world of Immortality."

Then said Rabbi Akiba:--

"It is well that man should be afflicted, for his distresses atone for
his sins."

"Does the Bible make such an assertion, Akiba?" asked his teacher.

"Yes," answered Akiba. "'Twelve years old was Manassah when he became
king, and fifty-and-five years did he reign in Jerusalem, and he did
what was evil in the eyes of the Lord' (Kings). Now, how was this? Did
Hezekiah teach the law to the whole world and not to his son Manassah?
Assuredly not; but Manassah paid no attention to his precepts, and
neglected the word of God until he was afflicted with bodily pain, as it
is written, 'And the Lord spoke to Manassah and to his people, but they
listened not, wherefore the Lord brought over them the captains of the
armies belonging to the king of Assyria, and they took Manassah prisoner
with chains, and bound him with fetters, and led him off to Babylon; and
when he was in distress he besought the Lord his God, and humbled
himself greatly before the God of his fathers. And he prayed to Him, and
He permitted Himself to be entreated by him and heard his supplication,
and brought him back to Jerusalem unto his kingdom. Then did Manassah
feel conscious that the Lord is indeed the (true) God.'

"Now, what did the