Section 9

5 'Fishes' and 'birds' are the new 'hearers' of the faith. p. 68 1 Presumably kept hidden, or made conditions concerning their revelation. 2 Compare with the above eloquent invitation to return the similar motive in the Talmūd Jesus stories: (1) "When King Jannai directed the destruction of the Rabbis. R. Joshua ben Perachiah and Jeshu went to Alexandria. When security returned, R. Simeon ben Shetach sent him a letter to this effect: From me, Jerusalem the holy city, to thee, Alexandria in Egypt, my sister. My spouse tarries in thee, and I dwell desolate'" ( Bab. Sandedrim , 107b, Sota , 47a). (2) "The inhabitants of Jerusalem intended to appoint Jehuda ben Tabbai as Nasi [Prince or President of the Sanhedrim] in Jerusalem. He fled and went away to Alexandria, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem wrote: 'From Jerusalem the Great to Alexandria the Little: How long lives my betrothed with thee, whilst I am sitting grieving for him?'" ( Pal. Chagiga , 77d). See my D. J. L. 100 B.C.? —pp. 137ff., 148ff.—for a discussion of these passages. Can Tabbai possibly in any way connect with the Ṭāb-Yōmīn of the Portents-piece § 18 ? p. 69 1 Clearly indicating that the Mandā was originally not Jewish. 2 Heb. ḥallah , the priests' share of the dough, Cp. Lev. 15:20, 21: "Of the first of your dough (marg. coarse meal) ye shall offer up a cake for a heave-offering."