Moses asked for three days for consideration, which the king granted.  During this time he prepared a certain mixture, and instructed his pupils to have it ready and apply it according to his directions, when he should be brought home senseless.  He then appeared before the king, and desired to have his veins opened.  The vital artery was missed, as he had anticipated, and the result was as he had foreseen.  After his recovery, he fled from Egypt, taking refuge in a cave, where he wrote his Yad Hazakah (the “Strong Hand"), consisting of fourteen divisions, typified by the word Yad, which also means fourteen.

Maimonides simplified the Talmudical rules and traditions, making them clear to the comprehension of all.  He was the author of an exhaustive work, entitled, Mishne Torah, the “Second Law,” which was eagerly copied and extensively disseminated.  He also wrote many philosophical treatises leveled against atheism, and designed to prove that God produced the world from naught, and at the age of fifty gave to the world his great work, Moreh Nebuchim ("Guide of the Perplexed"), to which Rabbi Judah Charizi added an appendix.

Maimonides died at the age of seventy years, and his remains were interred at Cairo, Egypt.  Both Jews and Gentiles mourned his loss.  The lamentation in Jerusalem was intense, a fast was declared, the synagogues were opened, and a portion of the law (Levit. 25:12 to end), and the fifth chapter of Samuel 1, were made parts of the service of the day.

* * * * *

During the reign of one of the bishops in Metz, there lived a Jew in that city, who was called Rabbi Amnon.  He was of illustrious family, of great personal merit, rich and respected by the Bishop and the people.  The Bishop frequently pressed him to abjure Judaism and embrace Christianity, but without the slightest avail.  It happened, however, upon a certain day, being more closely pressed than usual, and somewhat anxious to be rid of the Bishop’s importunities, he said hastily, “I will consider the subject, and give thee an answer in three days.”

As soon as he had left the Bishop’s presence, however, his heart smote him, and an unquiet conscience blamed him for admitting, even in this manner, a doubt of the true faith.  He reached home overwhelmed with grief; meat was set before him, but he refused to eat; and when his friends visited him and ascertained the cause of his low spirits, he refused their proffered consolation, saying, “I shall go down mourning to the grave for these words.”  On the third day, while he was still lamenting his imprudent concession, the Bishop sent for him, but he refused to answer the call.

Having refused several of the Bishop’s messengers, they were finally ordered to seize him, and bring him by force before the prelate.

“Amnon,” said the Bishop, “why didst thou not come to me, according to thy promise, to inform me of thy decision in regard to my request?”