The Dead Of The Desert

Rabbah said: I myself saw a day-old gazelle that was as large as Mount Tabor. And how large is Mount Tabor? Four parasangs. And the length of its neck was three parasangs, and the resting place of its head was a parasang and a half. It cast down a clod of dung and dammed up the Jordan. And Rabbah bar bar Hanah said: I myself saw a certain frog that was as large as the fortress of Hagronia. And how large is the fortress of Hagronia? Sixty houses. A serpent came and swallowed it. A raven came and swallowed the serpent, and went up and perched in a tree. And Rabbah bar bar Hanah said: One time we were going through the wilderness, and a certain Arab joined us, who would take dust and smell it, and would say: This is the road to such-and-such a place, and this is the road to such-and-such a place. He said to me: Come, I will show you the dead of the wilderness. I went and saw them, and they looked like men who were intoxicated.