" "But what I mean," replied the other,
"was how dost thou know that it is the Sabbath-day?" The reply was, "The
river Sambatyon proves it; the necromancer proves it; the grave of thy
father proves it, for the smoke thereof rises not on the Sabbath."
Ibid., fol. 65, col. 2.
See Bereshith Rabba, fol. 4, with reference to what is here said
about Turnus Rufus and his father's grave. The proof from the
necromancer lies in the allegation that his art was unsuccessful
if practiced on the Sabbath-day. The Sambatyon, Rashi says, is a
pebbly river which rushes along all the days of the week except
the Sabbath, on which it is perfectly still and quiet. In the
Machsor for Pentecost (D. Levi's ed. p. 81), it is styled "the
incomprehensible river," and a footnote thereto informs us that
"This refers to the river said to rest on the Sabbath from
throwing up stones, etc., which it does not cease to do all the
rest of the week." (See Sanhedrin, fol. 65, col. 2; Yalkut on
Isaiah, fol. 3, 1; Pesikta Tanchuma. See also Shalsheleth
Hakabbala and Yuchsin.)
Those Israelites and Gentiles who have transgressed with their bodies
(the former by neglecting to wear phylacteries, and the latter by
indulging in sensuous pleasures), shall go down into Gehenna, and there
be punished for twelve months, after which period their bodies will be
destroyed and their soul consumed, and a wind shall scatter their ashes
under the soles of the feet of the righteous; as it is said (Mal.
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