The darkness in which the man walked was the lack of religious knowledge. The torch he discovered typifies God's precepts, which aided him on the way until he obtained the blessed sunlight, compared to God's holy word, the Bible. Still, while man is in the forest (the world), he is not entirely at peace; his heart is weak, and he may lose the right path; but when he reaches the cross-roads (death), then may we proclaim him truly righteous, and exclaim:-- "A good name is more fragrant than rich perfume, and the day of death is better than the day of one's birth." Rabbi Jochanan, the son of Broka, and Rabbi Eleazer, the son of Chismah, visited their teacher, Rabbi Josah, and he said to them:-- "What is the news at the college; what is going on?" "Nay," they answered, "we are thy scholars; it is for thee to speak, for us to listen." "Nevertheless," replied Rabbi Josah, "no day passes without some occurrence of note at the college. Who lectured to-day?" "Rabbi Eleazer, the son of Azaryah." "And what was his subject?" "He chose this verse from Deuteronomy," replied the scholar:-- "'Assemble the people together, the men, the women, and the children;' and thus he expounded it:-- "'The men came to learn, the women to listen; but wherefore the children? In order that those who brought them might receive a reward for training their children in the fear of the Lord.' "He also expounded the verse from Ecclesiastes:-- "'The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails fastened (are the words of) the men of the assemblies, which are given by one shepherd.' "'Why is the law of God compared to a goad?' he said. 'Because the goad causes the ox to draw the furrow straight, and the straight furrow brings forth a plenty of good food for the life of man. So does the law of God keep man's heart straight, that it may produce good food to provide for the life eternal. But lest thou shouldst say, "The goad is movable, so therefore must the law be," it is also written, "as nails," and likewise, as "nails fastened," lest thou shouldst argue that nails pounded into wood diminish from sight with each stroke, and that therefore by this comparison God's law would be liable to diminution also. No; as a nail fastened or planted, as a tree is planted to bring forth fruit and multiply. "'The men of assemblies are those who gather in numbers to study the law. Frequently controversies arise among them, and thou mightest say, "With so many differing opinions how can I settle to a study of the law?" Thy answer is written in the words which are given by one shepherd. From one God have all the laws proceeded. Therefore make thy ears as a sieve, and incline thy heart to possess all these words.'" Then said Rabbi Josah, "Happy the generation which Rabbi Eleazer teaches." * * * * * The Rabbis of Jabnah expressed their regard for all human beings, learned and unlearned, in this manner:--