Once when Israel went up by pilgrimages to one of the three annual feasts at Jerusalem (see Exod. xxxiv. 23, 24), it so happened that there was no water to drink. Nicodemon ben Gorion therefore hired of a friendly neighbor twelve huge reservoirs of water promising to have them replenished against a given time, or failing this to forfeit twelve talents of silver. The appointed day came and still the drought continued, and therewith the scarcity of water; upon which the creditor appeared and demanded payment of the forfeit.
The answer of Nicodemon to the demand was, " There's time yet; the day is not over." The other chuckled to himself, inwardly remarking, " There's no chance now; there's been no rain all the season,8 and off he went to enjoy his bath. But Nicodemon sorrowful at heart, wended his way to the Temple. After putting on his prayer scarf, as he prayed, he pleaded, " Lord of the Universe! Thou knowest that I have not entered into this obligation for my own sake, but for Thy glory and for the