7 A hunter once caught a bird, which spoke with a human voice

Midrash Aggadah Exempla of the Rabbis, No. 390

Curated by The Jewish Mythology Team · Published January 1, 2025

7 A hunter once caught a bird, which spoke with a human voice. It asked the hunter to let it free, saying it would teach him three wise things, (1) “Rue not a thing that is past. (2) Never believe what is beyond belief. (3) Never try to reach the unattainable. The hunter let the bird free. It flew on the top of a tree and said, “I have in me a pearl, worth a thousand dinars” The man started

repenting and tried to climb up the tree and fell down. The bird mocked and said, “You have not profited by any of the three. I am free, why do you repent? I am so small that it is impossible that I should have in me such a huge pearl. And though warned not to mount where it is impossible, you tried and fell down.

Themes

Wisdom Repentance Animals Humor Wit

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