The Eternal Jew’s Tale, #166, Abarbanel 4.3

In this episode, and some following ones, I’ll present stories I heard from the mouths of Talmud khokhems. This week… Resh Lakish, the highwayman.

The Eternal Jew’s Tale
Twentieth Era, Part 4, ~1483 C.E., Iberia

The Abarbanel Cycle, 4.3
The Ladder of Ascents, 3
Compiled by Isaac Abarbanel
With the help of the Eternal Jew and his wife Batkol

Third Courtyard, Imaginal Ascents

Introduction to the Third Courtyard:
Pass thru the third gate of mystic ascents and now the terrain grows steep and rugged and all unknown as you enter the fearless inner scapes of spirit questers, and journey with them.

So hear these nine Pardes ascents — accounts by sages breaking the shells, to vision the Temple’s marble halls and the High Sanhedrin arrayed in court where they judge human minds and hearts. Once you learn to follow along behind these sages, you may learn to sail alone across these seas and climb into these gnarled roots where many a danger you will meet, which all these sages overcame in prior journeys, here untold.

So hear these tales told to me by each of these sages in ancient days.

1.
I been a friend of Resh Lakish* long before he become a sage, and tho he *lived outside the law, he were honest* in the highest degree. Chitter and chatting in a little shuk shaded by myrtle and willow trees in the bustling town of Zippori, this is a journey he told me about that brought him to the academy.
* a well known Talmud sage; *-* Dylan, Absolutely Sweet Marie

“In the hills not far from town there’s a stone hut that farmers once used to rest in shade on hot summer days. It collapsed in an earthquake some years ago. That’s where I hid my daggers and swords that I used for robbing merchants and princes. Me, the humble smithy in town. On quiet days when I was alone, I would stoke my furnace and pound out a blade, fold it and fold it to build its edge; then heat and quench — now that’s an art. When it’s cool it’s ready for outlaw work!

“One afternoon I was on my way, walking the lonely wadis and trails, the fields ablaze from the spring rains, *turmus and erus and calanit*, and the wadis gurgled and gushed and frothed. A startled hare ducked into a bush; two kits leapt and wrestled and played. And should an asp rear and hiss, my leathern boots would crush its head. Long shadows and cool breeze. I was greeted by the flute-like ‘kiyoot’ of owls discussing who they’d eat that night. Night fell. Crickets and frogs. The lion slept and the roe ventured out.
*-* lupine, iris, and anemone flowers

“Keeping the forest on my right hand, I finally came to the flickering light where caesar’s envoys set up camp. The fire, it died. Coals hardly glowed. The sounds of drunken snoring was loud. My short dagger drawn, I slowly approached. Three quick slices — it’s easily done. I took the reins of three of their horses, leapt on a fourth and galloped away. Far behind I heard a shout. Morning. I woke by the Jordan’s shore. There a beautiful woman was swimming stark.

“Out of my covert of reeds I leapt. In a moment I was standing next to the lass. It was a man! He pleasantly said to me,”
‘Strength like yours is better used for serving the Torah and holy deeds.’
“And me, I pleasantly said to him,
‘Beauty like yours is better found in a woman for serving pleasure’s deeds.’
‘Well, I have a daughter, more beautiful still….’

“That’s how I met Rabbi Yokhanan. I went with him back to Tiveria, thinking I’d steal his daughter from him, like I steal Roman horses and Roman gold. But that adventure is another tale. Just this to say: who can know the tricks the Eternal One will play? My iron heart was melted down. All floundering and all confused, I turned my face to the face of God, and thus betroth that splendorous one.”

~~~~~~~~~~

In the next episode: tales by Shimon bar Yohai and Shimon ben Azzai.