PASSAGES RELATING TO JESUS
75
interest taken in the Babylonian schools in the
traditions about Jesus. The Palestinian Gemara
contains much less than the Babylonian of such
digressions from its proper subject. But that the
story is a pure invention I see no reason whatever
to believe.
As it has already been suggested (see above, p. 71)
that Doeg and Ahitophel represent two of the
Apostles, perhaps Judas Iscariot and Peter, it is
interesting to note that the text quoted above to
determine the age of Balaam is also applied to these
two. On the same page of b. Sanh. 106b it is said
by R. Johanan, 'Doeg and Ahitophel did not live
out half their days. It is thus taught (Ps. lv. 23),
Men of blood and deceit do not live out half their
days.
All the years of Doeg were but thirty-four,
and of Ahitophel only thirty-three.' It is but fair,
however, to admit that, as Doeg and Ahitophel had
been mentioned together with Balaam in the Mishnah,
the inference as to the age of the one might naturally
be extended to the other, since it is only a haggadic
deduction from a text of Scripture.
BALAAM (JESUS) AND THE NAME OF GOD
(16) b. Sanh. 1068.-And he [Balsam] took up his
parable, and said, Alas, who .shall live when
God ejoeth this ? R. Shim'on ben Laqish
said : ' Woe unto him who maketh himself
to live by the name of God.'
Commentary.-The
text quoted is Num. xxiv. 23,
and the application of it by R. Shim'on b. Laqish
is a mere distortion of the original words. What
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