Page:Songs of exile (IA songsofexile00daviiala).pdf/106

102

was suggested by the following fragments from the Talmud:

Rabbi Eliezer saith: "The Ark hath gone into captivity unto Babylon, as ii is said, 'And at the return of the year King Nebuchadnezzar sent and brought him (Jehoiachin) to Babylon, with the goodly vessels of the House of the Lord.

Rabbi Simeon ben Yochai saith: "The Ark hath gone into captivity unto Babylon, as it is said, 'Nothing shall be left, saith the Lord.' This referreth to the Ten Words which were enshrined therein."

Rabbi Judah (ben Lakish) saith: "The Ark is hidden in its place, as it is said; 'That the ends of the staves were seen from the holy place before the oracle; but they were not seen without: and there they are unto this day.

And where it is written "unto this day," it is always understood to mean forever.

And the sages say, "The Ark was hidden in the chamber of the Wood Pile."

Rabbi Nachman bar Isaac saith: "I likewise have received a tradition. It is related of a priest, that, while wrapt in contemplation, he perceived that one of the stones of the pavement differed in appearance from the others. And he forthwith went to apprise his comrade; but be