“Do not be so wicked. Life is sacred. Moreover, the wonderful water will only bring a person back to life provided his life had been good.”
“Your Majesty,” she added, “must repent and mend your ways, otherwise you will not be restored to life in the hereafter.”
The King went away in anger and returned to his royal apartments. Here he ordered one of his servants to kill him.
“If you refuse,” cried the wicked King, “I will instantly kill you.”
Whereupon the servant obeyed the King and slew him.
The Queen was at once informed of the wicked death of the King. She was truly sorry to find that he had not allowed himself to be influenced by her advice, but that he had [[40]]trifled with his life. She therefore fetched the flask containing water from Hell. Then she sprinkled its contents upon the body of the wicked King. His body immediately was burnt to ashes. She thereupon turned to the astonished members of the Court who were looking on, and in a gentle voice she said,—
“Do you not see, good friends, that if my husband had been a good and holy man he would have been restored to life, just like Chaninah. But the fact is that he was a cruel and bad man. You all knew this even before I came here from my father’s land.”
After the burial of the King, the counsellors came to the Queen and urged her to marry Chaninah, who had proved such a trusty friend. The suggestion pleased the Queen, who gladly gave her heart and hand to the good man. They ruled the people in justice and kindness, and as long as they reigned there was peace in the land.
(From the Jewish Chap Book, Ma’aseh Book, § 143.)
