of scissors and I will cut thy hair." Sennacherib asked, " Whence shall I fetch them? " Go to yonder house and bring them." He went accordingly and observed a pair, but there he met the ministering angels disguised as men, grinding date-stones. He asked them for the scissors, but they said " Grind thou first a measure of date-stones, and then thou shalt have the scissors."
He did as he was told, and so obtained the scissors. It was dark before he returned, and God said unto him, "Go and fetch some fire." This also he did, but while blowing the embers his beard was singed. Upon which God came and shaved his head and his beard, and said, "This is it which is written (Isa. vii. 20), ( It shall also consume the beard.) " Rav Pappa says this is the proverb current among the people, " Singe the face of a Syrian, and, if it pleases him, also set his beard in fire, and thou wilt not be able to laugh enough." Sanhedrin, fol. 95, col. 2, and fol. 96, col. 1.