Page:The old paths, or The Talmud tested by Scripture.djvu/164

 "When he spoke the first word, his world was terrified, and when they heard two commandments, they moved backward the space of twenty-four miles." (Pentecost Prayers, fol. 87.) To understand this, we must again refer to the Talmud, which gives us the particulars.

"Rabbi Joshua, the son of Levi, says, as each commandment proceeded from the mouth of the Holy One, blessed be He, Israel retreated twelve miles, and the ministering angels led them back, as it is said, 'the angels of the host did flee apace.' (Ps. lxviii. 13.) Do not read 'they fled;' but, they led.'" (Shabbath, fol. 88, 2.) In this short passage we have two deliberate alterations of the Word of God, in order to square it with this absurd tradition. In the first place, "Kings of hosts" is changed into "angels of hosts," and in the second place, "They fled," is changed into "they led." These alterations do of themselves throw discredit upon the story which requires them, and not only upon this story, but upon the whole oral law, which allows such trifling with the Word of God. But our business is at present with the legend, and as it is told a little more circumstantially in the Jalkut, it will be well to give that version of it also.

"'They removed and stood afar off' (Exod. xx. 18)—a distance of twelve miles. This shows us that Israel retreated backwards twelve miles, and then advanced forwards twelve miles, altogether twenty-four miles, as each commandment was delivered. Thus they travelled in that day two hundred and forty miles. At that time the Holy One, blessed be He, said to the ministering angels, Descend and help your brethren, for it is said, 'The Kings of hosts did lead, did lead.' (Ps. lxviii. 13.) That is, they led when they went, and they led them when they returned." (Jalkut Shimoni, part