GEVURAH: YESHIVAT HAVERIM – BABYLONIAN TALMUD p57

R. Jehudah, R. Jose, and R. Simeon were sitting and Jehudah, the son of proselytes, sat before
them. R. Jehudah opened the conversation, saying: “How beautiful are the works of this nation (the Romans). They have established markets, they have built bridges, they
have opened bathing-houses.” R. Jose said nothing, but R. Simeon b. Johai said: “All these
things they have instituted for their own sake. Their markets are gathering-places for harlots;
they have built baths for the purpose of indulging themselves in their comforts; they have built
bridges to collect tolls from those who cross them.” Jehudah, the son of proselytes, went and
reported this conversation, and it came to the ears of the government. Said (the rulers):
“Jehudah, who has praised (our doings), shall be promoted; Jose, who said nothing, shall be
exiled to Sophoris; Simeon, who spoke disparagingly, shall be put to death.” R. Simeon and his
son then went and hid themselves in the college, and their wives brought them every day some
bread and a pitcher of water, and they ate. When the decree became imperative, he said to his
son: “Women are of a pliant disposition. They (the government agents) will perhaps trouble
them, and they (the women) will reveal our whereabouts.” They then went and hid themselves in
a cave. A miracle occurred, that a date tree and a spring of water came out for them. They
stripped themselves naked and sat down covered with sand up to their necks. Thus they sat all
day studying; only at the time of prayer they put on their garments, and after performing their
devotion they took them off again for fear they might wear them out. In this wise they spent
twelve years in their cave. Elijah then came to the opening of the cave and said: “Who will
inform the son of Johai that the Cæsar (governor) is dead and his decree is annulled?” Hereupon
they left the cave. They then went forth and saw men who were ploughing and sowing grain.
Said R. Simeon: “These people leave the works which lead to everlasting life and occupy
themselves with worldly things.” After this every place where they chanced to turn their eyes
was burned. Suddenly a “Bath-kol” (heavenly voice) was heard, which said unto them: “Have ye
come to destroy my world? Go, return to your cave.” They returned and stayed in the cave
another twelvemonth, saying the punishment of the wicked in Gehenna only lasts twelve
months. At the end of that time came again the heavenly voice and said: “Go out of the cave,”
and they came out. And R. Simeon said to his son: “It is enough for this world that I and you are
occupied with the study of the Torah and with good deeds.” This happened on a Friday near
sunset. They saw a man hurrying with two bunches of myrtle in his hand. “What are they for?
they asked him. “To honor the Sabbath,” was the reply. “Would not one bunch be enough?”
“Nay; one is for the command ‘remember,’ 1 the other for the command ‘observe,'” said the man.
Said R. Simeon to his son: “Behold, how Israel loves the commands (of God).” This reassured
them.