“Uncle,” said Ben Jochai, interrupting the old Rabbi’s speech, and rising from his seat: “Say nothing you might regret.”
“Nay, nay,” answered Gamaliel earnestly. “Our friends here prefer the human above the divine, but they are not traitors.” Then turning again to Apollodorus he continued:
“The oppressors in Israel have set up idols in our holy places, and strive again to force the people to bow down to them; but rather shall our back be broken than we will bend the knee or submit!”
“You are meditating another revolt?” asked the Alexandrian anxiously.
“Answer me—have you heard the name of Bar Kochba?”
“Yes, as that of the foolhardy leader of an armed troup.”
“He is a hero—perhaps the Redeemer.”
“And it was for him that you charged me to load my next corn vessel to Joppa with swords, shields and lance-heads?”
“And are none but the Romans to be permitted to use iron?”
“Nay—but I should hesitate to supply a friend with arms if he proposed to use them against an irresistible antagonist, who will inevitably annihilate him!”