VII. 2. R. Meir on his pilgrimage to Jerusalem used to lodge with Judah the butcher, whose wife looked after him. She died and Judah married a second time and entreated by him Meir lodged there again. R. Meir was a very beautiful man; the second wife fell in love with him, made him drunk and deceived him. In the morning, R. Meir found out the deception, returned home weeping, went to the Rosh Yeshi- bah to decide what punishment he deserved. The Rosh Yeshibah said that R. Meir should be exposed to the lions to be eaten by them. Accordingly he ordered two men to take him to the forest, to bind him hand and foot and watch from the top of a tree and see what happened. If eaten, they were to bring back the bones to be interred with honour. The first night the lion came and smelt him and went away. The men reported what had happened and were ordered to keep him there a second night. That night a lion came and roared. Left there a third night, a lion tore out a small bit from his side. This was considered by Rosh Yeshibah as equivalent to his having been torn to pieces and he ordered the physicians to cure him. When healed a heavenly voice was heard exclaiming, "R. Meir is worthy of the bliss of the world to come.”

VII.*) 2b. Story of R. Akiba and the dead. See No. 134.

385.VII. 3. A woman suspected of adultery by her husband was to be subjected to the ordeal of the bitter waters in the Temple. Her twin sister who was innocent and who looked exactly like her took her place. But on coming home she met her sister and kissed her and the breath had the

*) From shorter recension B. ed. Jellinek. vide p. 7, § 19.

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same effect on the latter as if she had drunk the waters destined for the suspected woman and proved her guilt.

VII.*) 3 b. Story of the bridegroom and the Angel of Death. See No. 139.

VII. *) 4. Story of Elijah, the pious woman and husband in bondage for 7 years. See No. 327.

VIII. 1. Story of Solomon, the three travellers and the girl. See Nos. in—112.

VIII. 2. Story of money stolen and recovered by clever trick. See No. 324.

IX. 1. Story of how three wicked daughters caused misfortune. See No. 143 (142).

IX.*) ib. Account of the burial of a scholar in Askalon and son of taxgatherer. Story of Simeon ben Shetah and the witches. See No. 332.