He replied:—­

“Listen, and I will tell ye how thoroughly it was observed by a heathen, Damah, the son of Nethina.  He was a diamond merchant, and the sages desired to purchase from him a jewel for the ephod of the high priest.  When they reached his house, they found that the key of the safe in which the diamond was kept was in the possession of Damah’s father, who was sleeping.  The son absolutely refused to wake his father, to obtain the key, even when the sages in their impatience offered him a much larger sum for the jewel than he had demanded.  And further, when his father awoke, and he delivered the diamond to the purchasers, and they offered him the larger sum which they had named, he took from it his first price, returning the balance to them, with the words, ’I will not profit by the honor of my father.’”

* * * * *

Man cannot always judge of man, and in the respect paid to parents by their children, earthly eyes cannot always see the truth.  For instance, a child may feed his parents on dainties, and yet deserve the punishment of a disrespectful son; while another may send his father to labor, and yet deserve reward.  How may this be?

A certain man placed dainty food before his father, and bade him eat thereof.  When the father had finished his meal, he said:—­

“My son, thou hast prepared for me a most delicious meal.  Wherefrom didst thou obtain these delicacies?”

And the son replied, insultingly:—­

“Eat as the dogs do, old man, without asking questions.”

That son inherited the punishment of disrespect.

A certain man, a miller, had a father living with him, at the time when all people not working for themselves were obliged to labor a certain number of days for the government.  When it came near the time when this service would be required of the old man, his son said to him, “Go thou and labor for me in the mill, and I will go and work for the government.”

He said this because they who labored for the government were beaten if their work proved unsatisfactory, and he thought “it is better for me to run the chance of being beaten than to allow my father to risk it.”  Therefore, he deserved the reward of the son who “honors his father.”

Rabbi Chiyah asserted that God preferred honor shown to parents, to that displayed toward Himself.  “It is written,” said he, “’Honor the Lord from thy wealth.’  How?  Through charity, good deeds, putting the mezuzah upon thy doorposts, making a tabernacle for thyself during Succoth, etc.; all this if thou art able.  If thou art poor the omission is not counted a sin or a neglect.  But it is written, ’Honor thy father and thy mother,’ and the duty is demanded alike of rich and poor; aye, even shouldst thou be obliged to beg for them from door to door.”

Rabbi Abahu said, “Abini, my son, hath obeyed this precept even as it should be observed.”