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time he brought about the reconciliation of Rabbi Judah with Rabbi Hayyah, whose form he had assumed. Rabbi Judah paid the highest respect to Rabbi Hayyah after he found out that Elijah had considered him worthy of taking his appearance.59
On another occasion, Elijah re-established harmony be- tween a husband and his wife. The woman had come home very late one Friday evening, having allowed herself to be detained by the sermon preached by Rabbi Meir. Her au- tocratic husband swore she should not enter the house until she had spat in the very face of the highly-esteemed Rabbi. Meantime Elijah went to Rabbi Meir, and told him a pious woman had fallen into a sore predicament on his account. To help the poor woman, the Rabbi resorted to a ruse. He announced that he was looking for one who knew how to cast spells, which was done by spitting into the eye of the afflicted one. When he caught sight of the woman desig- nated by Elijah, he asked her to try her power upon him. Thus she was able to comply with her husband's require- ment without disrespect to the Rabbi ; and through the in- strumentality of Elijah conjugal happiness was restored to an innocent wife.90
Elijah's versatility is shown in the following occurrence. A pious man bequeathed a spice-garden to his three sons. They took turns in guarding it against thieves. The first night the oldest son watched the garden. Elijah appeared to him and asked him : " My son, what wilt thou have — knowledge of the Torah, or great wealth, or a beautiful wife? " He chose wealth, great wealth. Accordingly Elijah gave him a coin, and he became rich. The second son, to 14
