13. Rabbi Meir once left synagogue earlier than
usual. Wonder at the reason. He had overheard a snake
saying, “I am sent to kill R. Judah the Antoti and his
whole family because has never given alms.” R. Meir
ran ahead, met the snake by the river, conjured it not to
cross it until allowed, covered his face, came to the house,
- 152 -
was suspected of being a thief, hid in the stables, came
to the meal and refused to leave unless he received
something to eat and drink. He then asked R. Judah to give
him a loan as a charitable gift. When rudely answered he
put out the light, uncovered his face and the room was lit
up. They recognised R. Meir and prostrated themselves. He
ordered R. Judah at once to send his family to hide in different places. He himself remained alone with R. Judah
and warned him not to open the door until the morning.
After two hours he granted permission to the snake to
come; it entered the house and threatened to kill R. Judah.
R. Meir rebuked it, saying, “I have just been fed and have
received alms. The snake coiled itself round the house outside, and after a time it came and pretending to speak
with the voice of the wife, asked to be let in as she was
being frozen. R. Meir prevented it. The second time, it
spoke with the voice of the eldest son who was afraid of
wild beasts. R. Meir kept the door locked. The third time
apparently the sons and daughters came but again the door
remained locked. The snake seeing its mission frustrated
threw itself down from a height and died. In the morning
the family returned; and R. Meir told R. Judah to ask
whether any of them had come in the night. They all denied
it. He shewed him the dead snake and R. Judah promised
to give alms profusely.
394. 13. Rabbi Meir once left synagogue earlier than
usual. Wonder at the reason. He had overheard a snake
saying, “I am sent to kill R. Judah the Antoti and his
whole family because has never given alms.” R. Meir
ran ahead, met the snake by the river, conjured it not to
cross it until allowed, covered his face, came to the house,
- 152 -
was suspected of being a thief, hid in the stables, came
to the meal and refused to leave unless he received
something to eat and drink. He then asked R. Judah to give
him a loan as a charitable gift. When rudely answered he
put out the light, uncovered his face and the room was lit
up. They recognised R. Meir and prostrated themselves. He
ordered R. Judah at once to send his family to hide in different places. He himself remained alone with R. Judah
and warned him not to open the door until the morning.
After two hours he granted permission to the snake to
come; it entered the house and threatened to kill R. Judah.
R. Meir rebuked it, saying, “I have just been fed and have
received alms. The snake coiled itself round the house outside, and after a time it came and pretending to speak
with the voice of the wife, asked to be let in as she was
being frozen. R. Meir prevented it. The second time, it
spoke with the voice of the eldest son who was afraid of
wild beasts. R. Meir kept the door locked. The third time
apparently the sons and daughters came but again the door
remained locked. The snake seeing its mission frustrated
threw itself down from a height and died. In the morning
the family returned; and R. Meir told R. Judah to ask
whether any of them had come in the night. They all denied
it. He shewed him the dead snake and R. Judah promised
to give alms profusely.
