hey blow alarms, but do not
fast."

4. And so for a city, in which there is pestilence, or falling of
buildings, that city fasts and blows an alarm, and all the neighboring
cities fast, but do not blow an alarm. Rabbi Akiba said, "they blow
alarms, but do not fast." "What is pestilence?" "A city containing 500
men, and there go forth from it three dead in three days, one after the
other; this is pestilence, less than this is not pestilence."

5. For these things men blow an alarm in every place--for the blasting and
for the blighting, for the locust and for the caterpillar, and for the
evil beast, and for the sword, they blow an alarm over them, because it is
a spreading wound.

6. It happened that the elders went down from Jerusalem to their cities,
and proclaimed fasting, because the blasting appeared, as much as would
fill an oven, in Askelon. And again they proclaimed a fast, because the
wolves devoured two children beyond Jordan: Rabbi Jose said, "not because
they devoured them, but because the wolves were seen."

7. For these things men blow an alarm on the Sabbath--for a city,
encompassed by Gentiles, or by a flood, and for a ship tossed in the sea.
Rabbi Jose said, "for help, but not for a cry of distress." Simon the
Temanite said, "also for pestilence," but the Sages did not admit it.

8. For all distress--may it not come on the congregation--men sound an
alarm, except for too much rain. It happened that they said to Hone
Hammeagal, "pray that the rain come down": he said to them, "go and bring
in the passover ovens, that they be not dissolved." He prayed, but the
rain did not come down--What did he do? He dug a hole and stood in it, and
said before HIM, "Our Lord of the world, thy sons have turned toward me,
because I am a son of the House in Thy Presence. I am sworn in Thy great
Name, that I move not from hence, till Thou have pity on Thy children."
The rain began to drop; he said, "I did not ask it thus, but rains for
wells, pits, and caves." The rain began to descend with storm. He said, "I
did not ask it thus, but reasonable rain, with blessing and free-will."
The showers came down as they ought, until all Israel went up from
Jerusalem to the Mount of Olives on account of the rains. They came and
said to him, "as thou hast prayed that the rains should come down, so pray
that they may depart." He said to them, "go and see if the Stone of
Proclamation(337) be covered." Simon the son of Shatach sent to hi