Page:Folk-lore of the Holy Land.djvu/82

58 reverend-looking old man appeared, donned his “talith” or prayer-shawl, and took his place among them. When the service was over, “the First in Zion,” as the chief Rabbi of the Jewish community at Jerusalem is entitled, on leaving the place of worship, looked for the stranger, intending to ask him to the Sabbath meal, but he could nowhere be found. It was thought this mysterious stranger could have been no other than the famous Tishbite.

The following story, a version of one told in the Koran, is related by the Moslems of El Khudr:— The great Lawgiver was much perplexed and troubled when he thought about the apparently confused and strange dealings of Divine Providence, so besought Allah to enlighten him. He was told, in answer to his prayer, to go on a certain day to a certain place where he would meet a servant of the Merciful, who would instruct him. Misa did as he was told, and found at the rendezvous a venerable derwish, who, to start with, made him promise not to make remarks or ask questions concerning anything he might see while they jour- neyed together. Musa promised, and the pair set out on their travels.

At sunset they reached a village, and went to the house of the sheykh, a man rich and kindly, who bade them welcome and ordered a sheep to be killed in their honour. When bedtime came they were conducted to a large, well-furnished room. The “tusht and ibrik,” which in most houses are of