The Talmud: Selections: III. Incidents in The Lives of the Rabbis: Rabbi Simon

'He shall call from the heaven above, and to the earth to judge his people' (Psalms). p. 279 "He shall call from the 'heaven above,' which is the soul, and to the 'earth below,' which is the body, mixing with the dust from whence it sprung." ______________ A heathen said to Rabbi Joshua, "Thou believest that God knows the future?" "Yes," replied the Rabbi. "Then," said the questioner, "wherefore is it written, 'The Lord said, I will destroy everything which I have made, because it repenteth me that I have made them?' Did not the Lord foresee that man would become corrupt?" Then said Rabbi Joshua, "Hast thou children?" "Yes," was the answer. "When a child was born, what didst thou?" "I made a great rejoicing." "What cause hadst thou to rejoice? Dost thou not know that they must die?" "Yes, that is true; but in the time of enjoyment I do not think of the future." "So was it with God," said Rabbi Joshua. "He knew that men would sin; still that knowledge did not prevent the execution of his beneficent purpose to create them." ______________ One of the emperors said to Rabon Gamliel: "Your God is a thief, as it is written, 'And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept. And He took a rib from Adam.'" The Rabbi's daughter said, "Let me answer this aspersion. Last night robbers broke into my room, and stole therefrom a silver vessel: but they left a golden one in its stead."