12. Rabbi Joshua b. Levi and the prophet Elijah travelled together although the prophet said R. Joshua would see things which he would not understand. The first night they slept at a poor man’s house where they were very well treated. The prophet killed the only cow. R. Joshua doubted whether it was proper but the prophet replied, “If you ask, I am leaving you.” On the second night, they went to a rich man’s house; he was engaged in building and ignored them. In the night the prophet built up a mighty palace. On the third night they came to a place full of rich men who treated them churlishly. The prophet wished them to be all chiefs. On the fourth night they came to a place of poor people who treated them with great honour. In the morning Elijah wished that they should have only one chief. R. Joshua insisted upon an explanation. Elijah said, “If I answer I disappear.” He killed the cow as substitute for the woman destined to die that night. If the rich man had dug the ground, he would have found a tremendous treasure. The building he had erected would soon fall down and the man would never get the money. As for the third case, if they were all chiefs, they would be constantly quarrelling but with one chief the community would prosper. He then disappeared. (Variant of No. 301.)