is to be preferred, for the children will, in the long run, improve most by learning much.”  Rav Deimi of Nehardaa, however, thinks the latter is to be preferred, for a mistake or an error once learned is difficult to unlearn; as it is written in 1 Kings xi. 16, “For six months did Joab remain there with all Israel, until he cut off every male in Edom.”  When David asked Joab why he killed only the males and not the females, he replied, “Because it is written in Deut. xxv. 19, ’Thou shalt blot out the male portion of Amalek.’” “But,” said David, “we read ‘the remembrance of Amalek.’” To this Joab replied, “My teacher taught me to read zachar and not zeichar,” i.e., male, and not remembrance.  The teacher of Joab was sent for; and being found guilty of having taught his pupil in a superficial manner, he was condemned to be beheaded.  The poor teacher pleaded in vain for his life, for the king’s judgment was based on Scripture (Jer. xlviii. 10), “Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord deceitfully, and cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood.”

Bava Bathra, fol. 21, col. 1.

The Romans faithfully observed their compact with Israel for twenty-six years.  After that time they began to oppress them.

Avoda Zarah, fol. 8, col. 2.

The Rabbis have taught that a small salt fish will cause death if partaken of after seven, seventeen, or twenty-seven days; some say after twenty-three days.  This is said with reference to half-cooked fish, but when properly cooked there is no harm in it.  Neither does any harm result from eating half-cooked fish, if strong drink be taken after it.

Berachoth, fol. 44, col. 2.

On the twenty-eighth day of Adar there came good news to the Jews.  The Roman Government had passed a decree ordaining that they should neither study the law, nor circumcise their children, nor observe the Sabbath-days.  Yehudah ben Shamua and his associates went to consult a certain matron, whom all the magnates of Rome were in the habit of visiting.  She advised them to come at night and raise a loud outcry against the decree they complained of.  They did so, and cried, “O heavens! are we not your brethren? are we not the children of one mother?” (Alluding to Rebekah, the mother of Jacob and Esau.) “Wherein are we worse than all other nations and tongues, that you should oppress us with such harsh decrees?” Thereupon the decrees were revoked; to commemorate which the Jews established a festival.

Rosh Hashanah, fol. 19, col. 1.

The renewal of the moon comes round in not less than twenty-nine days and a half and forty minutes.

Ibid., fol. 25, col. 1.

Rav Mari reports that Rabbi Yochanan had said, “He who indulges in the practice of eating lentils once in thirty days keeps away quinsy, but they are not good to be eaten regularly because by them the breath is corrupted.”  He used also to say that mustard eaten once in thirty days drives away sickness, but if taken every day the action of the heart is apt to be affected.