R. Eleazar b. Shimeon was a very strongly built man
and used to carry people across the river upon his shoulders.
Once the Prophet Elijah came to him in the form of an old
man and said to him, “Get me a beast of burden" and
Eleazar asked him “What hast thou to carry?" And the
Prophet showed him his mantle and his water bottle. Then
Eleazar said to him, “Why, I can carry thee almost to the
end of the world; wherefore dost thou want a beast of
burden ?" So he took Elijah upon his shoulders and carried
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him over hills and valleys, across countries and through
thorns and briars. At last he said, “Old man, just get a
little lighter! Otherwise I will throw you off." Elijah
asked him if he wanted to breathe a little and Eleazar said
“Yes.” So they went into a field and they sat under a tree
and he gave him to eat and to drink. Then Elijah said to
him, “Thou hast this strength and beauty and yet thou dost
not work for thy Father,—God.” And he answered, “Is
there anyone who can teach me ?” And Elijah replied,
“Yes.” Some say that he studied for 13 years until he was
able to read the law and that he was then scarcely able
to carry the weight of his mantle. The like is told of a man
who belonged to R. Gamliel who used to carry 40 loaves
on his back to the baker, but who after he was taught and
instructed could not carry even one.
94. R. Eleazar b. Shimeon was a very strongly built man
and used to carry people across the river upon his shoulders.
Once the Prophet Elijah came to him in the form of an old
man and said to him, “Get me a beast of burden" and
Eleazar asked him “What hast thou to carry?" And the
Prophet showed him his mantle and his water bottle. Then
Eleazar said to him, “Why, I can carry thee almost to the
end of the world; wherefore dost thou want a beast of
burden ?" So he took Elijah upon his shoulders and carried
- 76
him over hills and valleys, across countries and through
thorns and briars. At last he said, “Old man, just get a
little lighter! Otherwise I will throw you off." Elijah
asked him if he wanted to breathe a little and Eleazar said
“Yes.” So they went into a field and they sat under a tree
and he gave him to eat and to drink. Then Elijah said to
him, “Thou hast this strength and beauty and yet thou dost
not work for thy Father, — God.” And he answered, “Is
there anyone who can teach me ?” And Elijah replied,
“Yes.” Some say that he studied for 13 years until he was
able to read the law and that he was then scarcely able
to carry the weight of his mantle. The like is told of a man
who belonged to R. Gamliel who used to carry 40 loaves
on his back to the baker, but who after he was taught and
instructed could not carry even one.
