mples:--Maximus Tyrius says, "There is nothing (essentially)
decorous in truth, yea, truth is sometimes hurtful and lying
profitable." Darius is represented by Herodotus (Book iii., p.
191) as saying, "When telling falsehood is profitable, let it be
told." Menander says, "A lie is better than an annoying truth."

God utters a curse against those who remain single after they are twenty
years of age; and those who marry at sixteen please him, and those who
do so at fourteen still more.

_Kiddushin_, fol. 29, col. 2.

Elijah binds and God flogs the man who marries an unsuitable wife.

Ibid., fol. 70, col. 1.

God acknowledges His weakness in argument, "My children have vanquished
me! my children have vanquished me!" He exclaims. "They have defeated me
in argument."

_Bava Metzia_, fol. 59, col. 2.

God's decision was controverted by the Academy in heaven, and the matter
in debate was finally settled by a Rabbi, who had to be summoned from
earth to heaven expressly to adjudicate in the case.

_Bava Metzia_, fol. 86, col. 1.

The classical student will recognize in this a parallel to the
Greek myth in which the Olympian divinities refer their debate
in the matter of the apple of discord to the judgment of Paris.
May there not in both fables lie a dim forefeeling of the time
when Justice shall transfer her seat from the skies, so that
whatever her ministers bind on earth may be bound in heaven?

God will bear testimony before all the nations of the earth that His
people Israel have kept the whole of the law.

_Avodah Zarah_, fol. 3, col. 1.

God is occupied for twelve hours every day in study, at work, or at
play.

Ibid., fol. 3, col. 2.

God does not act without first consulting the assembly above; as it is
said (Dan. iv. 17), "This matter is by the decree of the watchers and
the demand of the word of the Holy One," etc.

_Sanhedrin_, fol. 38, col. 2.

God Himself is described as exacting an atonement for His own
miscreations; as, for instance, His diminishing the size of the moon.

_Shevuoth_, fol. 9, col. 1.

The general height of the Levites was ten ells.

_Shabbath_, fol. 92, col. 1.

Ten things cause hemorrhoids:--Eating cane leaves, the foliage and
tendrils of the vine, the palate of cattle, the backbones of fish,
half-cooked salt fish, wine lees, etc.

_Berachoth_, fol. 55, col. 1.

Ten things provoke a desperate relapse in a convalescent:--Eating be