at is going on?"

"Nay," they answered, "we are thy scholars; it is for thee to speak, for
us to listen."

"Nevertheless," replied Rabbi Josah, "no day passes without some
occurrence of note at the college. Who lectured to-day?"

"Rabbi Eleazer, the son of Azaryah."

"And what was his subject?"

"He chose this verse from Deuteronomy," replied the scholar:--

"'Assemble the people together, the men, the women, and the children;'
and thus he expounded it:--

"'The men came to learn, the women to listen; but wherefore the
children? In order that those who brought them might receive a reward
for training their children in the fear of the Lord.'

"He also expounded the verse from Ecclesiastes:--

"'The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails fastened (are the
words of) the men of the assemblies, which are given by one shepherd.'

"'Why is the law of God compared to a goad?' he said. 'Because the goad
causes the ox to draw the furrow straight, and the straight furrow
brings forth a plenty of good food for the life of man. So does the law
of God keep man's heart straight, that it may produce good food to
provide for the life eternal. But lest thou shouldst say, "The goad is
movable, so therefore must the law be," it is also written, "as nails,"
and likewise, as "nails fastened," lest thou shouldst argue that nails
pounded into wood diminish from sight with each stroke, and that
therefore by this comparison God's law would be liable to diminution
also. No; as a nail fastened or planted, as a tree is planted to bring
forth fruit and multiply.

"'The men of assemblies are those who gather in numbers to study the
law. Frequently controversies arise among them, and thou mightest say,
"With so many differing opinions how can I settle to a study of the
law?" Thy answer is written in the words which are given by one
shepherd. From one God have all the laws proceeded. Therefore make thy
ears as a sieve, and incline thy heart to possess all these words.'"

Then said Rabbi Josah, "Happy the generation which Rabbi Eleazer
teaches."

* * * * *

The Rabbis of Jabnah expressed their regard for all human beings,
learned and unlearned, in this manner:--

"I am a creature of God and so is my neighbor. He may prefer to labor in
the country; I prefer a calling in the city. I rise early for my
personal benefit; he rises early to advance his own interests. As he
does not seek to supplant me