Rabbi Abhu once complimented Rav Saphra before the Minim by singling him out in their hearing as a man distinguished by his learning, and this led them to exempt him from tribute for thirteen years. It so happened that these Minim once posed Saphra about that which is written in Amos iii. 2, "You only have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.
"Ye say you are God's friends, but when one has a friend does he pour out his wrath upon him? To this Rav Saphra make no reply. They then put a rope round his neck and tormented him. When he was in this sorry plight, Rabbi Abhu came up and inquired why they tormented him thus.
To this they made answer, " Didst thou not tell us that he was a very learned man, and he does not even know how to explain a text of Scripture? " Yes, I did so say,* replied Rabbi Abhu; "he is an adept in the Talmud only, but not in the Scriptures.* "Thou knowest the Scriptures; they replied, and why ought he not to