Exempla of the Rabbis, Tale 391

Midrash Aggadah Exempla of the Rabbis, No. 391

Curated by The Jewish Mythology Team · Published January 16, 2025

10. Rich man sent his son far away to trade. In his absence, the old man died and left all his property in the hands of a slave. When the son returned, the slave claimed to be the son. Brought before the judge, the judge said, “The plaintiff is a slave to the son and therefore all the property goes to the son.” This was the real intention of the testator, who feared otherwise the property would have been plundered.

They brought the case before king David; the slave brought witnesses and King David dismissed the son, believing the other to be the right son. The real son cried. Solomon was allowed to decide. He asked the slave to bring a bone from the dead man's body and told each of them to fill a basin with their blood and dip the bone into it. The bone remained unchanged in the blood of the slave but sucked in and became red with the blood of the son. Thus Solomon proved to the assembly that it was of the same blood. Slave then ordered to return the property.

Themes

Death Wisdom Kings Repentance

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