Jeremiah went about by the fathers’ graves, and said: ‘Beloved ones, how can ye lie at rest, while your children are banished, pierced through with the sword? Where is then your merit in a land laid waste?’ The patriarchs all cried with bitter lamentations, because they were bereft of their children; with an imploring voice they moaned to the Dweller of the skies: ‘Where is Thy pledge: “But I will for their sakes remember the covenant of their ancestors”?’[55] ‘They changed My glory for vanity; they had no dread of Me, they feared Me not; when I hid My face from them, they longed not, and waited not for Me. How shall I then refrain Me when they say: “He is not our God”?’[56] The father of the multitude[57] cried in their behalf, and implored the Most High God: ‘In vain was I tried ten times for their sake, since I now behold their destruction. Where is Thy promise: “Fear not, Abram”?’[58] ‘Ah, they have erred and gone astray from Me, and consecrated themselves to strange gods; they counselled to hew out cisterns for them—but broken cisterns are theirs. How shall I refrain Me, when they break the ten commandments?’ And thus cried Isaac wofully unto the Dweller of the skies: ‘In vain was I appointed to be slain, since my seed is crushed and ruined. Where is Thy pledge: “But I will establish My covenant with Isaac”?’[59] ‘They rebelled against the prophet Jeremiah, and defiled mount Moriah; I am weary of hearing the complaint which rises to Me from the earth. And how shall I refrain Me since Zechariah is slain?’ And then spoke he who was born for study,[60] like jackals shedding tears: ‘My little ones whom I reared with care, why did they fly away so soon? Why was I punished a thousandfold for my blood-guilt?’ Then spoke the faithful shepherd,[61] covered with ashes, wallowing in dust: ‘The flocks that were entrusted to my care, why were they cut off before their time? Where is Thy pledge: “They shall not be widowed”?’[62] The wailing voice of Leah, tabering upon her breasts, was then heard; her sister Rachel, too, bemoaned her sons; Zilpah struck her face; Bilhah lamented, lifting up her hands. ‘Return, O perfect ones, unto your rest; I will fulfil all your desires. For your sakes was I sent to Babylon;—I will return your children’s captivity.’ VII. ELDAD HA-DANI. [A traveller who flourished in the ninth century. According to his narrative, he was a native of East Africa. He seems to have travelled in Spain and Babylon.] Eldad Leaves His Native Place Beyond the Rivers of Cush[63]