The son of Hananya joined a band of robbers and betrayed them to one of the great men of Rome. They found
it out and killed him. In the funeral oration his father delivered, he tried no comfort but recognised that the death of
his son had been deserved. When R. Hananya was informed
of the news that he had been condemned to death by fire
for studying the Law he quoted the verse Deut. 32. 4. The
wife then asked what punishment was decreed for her and
they answered “Death by the swrord.” To the daughter they
said that she was to work on the Sabbath. For each of
these they found appropriate verses in the Bible in acknowledgement of God's righteous judgment. When R. Hananya
was brought out to be burned his daughter cried because
he was condemned to be burned and he said, “Is it not
better that I should be burned in a fire that can be blown
out than in the Eternal Fire ?” And she said, “I cry also for
the Law which is burned with thee.” And he replied, “The
Law is fire and fire never consumes fire; the parchment
may burn but the words will float on the air. He who will
arise in the days to come will visit my blood upon the
heads of these men und punish them for the persecution of
the Law.’’
67. The son of Hananya joined a band of robbers and betrayed them to one of the great men of Rome. They found
it out and killed him. In the funeral oration his father delivered, he tried no comfort but recognised that the death of
his son had been deserved. When R. Hananya was informed
of the news that he had been condemned to death by fire
for studying the Law he quoted the verse Deut. 32. 4. The
wife then asked what punishment was decreed for her and
they answered “Death by the swrord.” To the daughter they
said that she was to work on the Sabbath. For each of
these they found appropriate verses in the Bible in acknowledgement of God's righteous judgment. When R. Hananya
was brought out to be burned his daughter cried because
he was condemned to be burned and he said, “Is it not
better that I should be burned in a fire that can be blown
out than in the Eternal Fire ?” And she said, “I cry also for
the Law which is burned with thee.” And he replied, “The
Law is fire and fire never consumes fire; the parchment
may burn but the words will float on the air. He who will
arise in the days to come will visit my blood upon the
heads of these men und punish them for the persecution of
the Law.’’
