In time of drought, the people appealed to Honi to
pray on their behalf. He drew a circle, stood in the midst
of it and prayed saying he would not step out of the circle
until rain had fallen. The rain fell at once, hence his name
Honi “ha-Meagel”, “the one who draws the circle ”
He wondered at the verse in the psalm, “When the Lord
turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like unto them
that dream (Ps. 126: 1),” and he wondered how anyone could
sleep for 70 years. One day, out in the field he saw a man
planting a Harub tree, which only bears fruit after seventy
years. Asked whether he expected to eat of the fruit the old
man replied, “My forefather planted for me and I plant for
the future.” Honi then went to sleep and slept for 70 years,
protected by a hedge which had grown around him. When
he woke up he saw a man plucking the fruit. It was the
grandson. His she -ass had produced foals and many were
grazing. He came back to town but only found his grandson,
his son having died. Going to the College he heard his name
mentioned but people refused to recognise him. He realised
that he had slept for 70 years and prayed to God to take
his life and God heard his prayer.
422. In time of drought, the people appealed to Honi to
pray on their behalf. He drew a circle, stood in the midst
of it and prayed saying he would not step out of the circle
until rain had fallen. The rain fell at once, hence his name
Honi “ha-Meagel”, “the one who draws the circle ”
He wondered at the verse in the psalm, “When the Lord
turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like unto them
that dream (Ps. 126: 1),” and he wondered how anyone could
sleep for 70 years. One day, out in the field he saw a man
planting a Harub tree, which only bears fruit after seventy
years. Asked whether he expected to eat of the fruit the old
man replied, “My forefather planted for me and I plant for
the future.” Honi then went to sleep and slept for 70 years,
protected by a hedge which had grown around him. When
he woke up he saw a man plucking the fruit. It was the
grandson. His she -ass had produced foals and many were
grazing. He came back to town but only found his grandson,
his son having died. Going to the College he heard his name
mentioned but people refused to recognise him. He realised
that he had slept for 70 years and prayed to God to take
his life and God heard his prayer.
