The Lion Of The Forest Ilai

And the keresh, even though it has only a single horn, is permitted. Rav Yehudah said: The keresh is the deer of the forest of Ilai; the tigris is the lion of the forest of Ilai. Rav Kahana said: There are nine cubits between one ear and the other ear of the lion of the forest of Ilai. Rav Yosef said: The hide of the deer of the forest of Ilai is sixteen cubits. The emperor said to Rabbi Yehoshua ben Hananiah: Your God is compared to a lion, as it is written, "A lion has roared, who will not fear?" (Amos 3:8). But what is His greatness? A horseman can kill a lion! He said to him: He is not compared to such a lion; He is compared to the lion of the forest of Ilai. He said to him: I wish that you would show it to me. He said to him: You cannot look upon it. He said to him: In truth, I shall look upon it! He prayed for mercy, and the lion was uprooted from its place. When it was four hundred parasangs distant, it let out a single roar, and all the pregnant women miscarried, and the wall of Rome fell. When it had drawn near to three hundred parasangs away, it let out another roar, and the men's molars and teeth fell out, and even he himself fell from his throne to the ground. He said to him: I beg of you, pray for mercy upon it that it return to its place. He prayed for mercy upon it, and it returned to its place.