Why the Ox Has No Hair on His Nose

Alphabet of Ben Sira 36

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·March 24, 2026

י Nebuchadnezzar said to Ben Sira, "Why does an ox have no hair on his nose?" He said to him, "When Israel and Joshua were encircling Jericho to make it fall, Joshua was fat. They brought him a horse, a donkey, and a mule to ride, but they all died underneath him. So they brought him an ox and it carried him, and when he saw this he kissed him on his nose, and therefore it has no hair."

Themes

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