t. And it was the cocks of
Pamphilia that had--He stopped, for the great change that had come over
his parents' faces set him wondering if his conduct was as shameful as
their faces seemed to affirm. He could not see that he had sinned
against the law by going to Tiberias, though he had associated himself
with Gentiles and for a whole day ... he had eaten in their company, but
not of any forbidden meat. And while Joseph sought to mitigate his
offence to himself, his father sat immersed in woe, his head in his
hands. What calamity, he cried, has fallen on my house, and how have I
sinned, O Lord, that punishment should fall upon me, and that my own son
should be chosen to mete out my punishment? My house is riven from
rafter to foundation stone. But, Father, at most--It seemed useless to
plead. He stood apart; his grandmother stood silent and grave, not
understanding fully, and Joseph foresaw that he could not count upon
her to side with him against his father. But if his father would only
tell him if he had sinned against the law, instead of rending his
garments, he would do all the law commanded to obtain forgiveness. Was
there, he asked, anything in the law against cock-fighting? or in the
traditions? It was a pastime of the heathen: he knew that, and had hoped
a day of fasting might be suggested to him, but if this offence was more
serious than he had supposed he besought his father to say so. Tell me,
Father, have I sinned against the law?

The question seemed to exasperate his father who at last cried out: of
what value may be thy Hebrew studies and a knowledge of the language, if
the law be not studied with Azariah? Does not the Book of Leviticus ever
lie open before thee? How has the law been affronted? The law given by
the Lord unto Moses. My own son asks me this. "And if a soul sin and
hear the voice swearing and is a witness whether he has sinned or known
of it, if he did not utter it, then he shall bear his iniquity." Was
there no swearing at thy cock-fight? Plenty, I reckon. All day was spent
listening to swearing, hearing the name of the Lord taken in vain: a
name we don't dare to pronounce ourselves. Joseph sat dumbfounded. So
Azariah never taught thee the law? All the time goes by wasted in the
reading of Greek plays. We read Hebrew and speak it, Joseph answered,
and it was your wish that I should learn Greek. And, Father, is there
any reason to worry over a loss of repute? For my sin will be known to
nobo