An heathen heard of the honour paid to the high priest
and he wished to become a Jew. Shammai refused him
saying that it was ridiculous for him to pretend to become
high priest. Hillel received him on condition that he first
learned all that was required of him. So he studied the Law
and he found there the passage “The stranger who approaches
the sanctuary shall die", and he was informed that even
David the King of Israel would not be allowed to approach
the altar of the Lord. He became reconciled and turned a
Jew. He had two children; one he called Hillel and the
6o,
other Gamliel. They were called the proselytes of Hillel
and this their father was Onkelos the proselyte, who translated the Bible.
31. An heathen heard of the honour paid to the high priest
and he wished to become a Jew. Shammai refused him
saying that it was ridiculous for him to pretend to become
high priest. Hillel received him on condition that he first
learned all that was required of him. So he studied the Law
and he found there the passage “The stranger who approaches
the sanctuary shall die", and he was informed that even
David the King of Israel would not be allowed to approach
the altar of the Lord. He became reconciled and turned a
Jew. He had two children; one he called Hillel and the
— 6o —
other Gamliel. They were called the proselytes of Hillel
and this their father was Onkelos the proselyte, who translated the Bible.
