The Flying Letters

Avodah Zarah 18a

At the hour when the three of them went out to be killed, they justified the judgment of Heaven upon themselves. He said: "The Rock, His work is perfect" (Deuteronomy 32:4). His wife said: "A faithful God and without iniquity" (Deuteronomy 32:4). His daughter said: "Great in counsel and mighty in deed, whose eyes are open upon all the ways of the children of men" (Jeremiah 32:19). Rabbi said: How great are these righteous ones, that there came to them three verses of the justification of judgment at the very hour of the justification of judgment.

Themes

Original Sources

  • B. Avodah Zarah 18a
  • Avot de-Rabbi Natan 2
  • Targum Pseudo-Yonathan on Exodus 32:19
  • Zohar l:216b-217a
  • Pseudo-Philo, Liber Antiquitatum Biblicarum 12:5.

Biblical References