honor his father and his mother, when he allowed Abraham to bind
him on the altar as a sacrifice. Judah observed the commandment
not to kill when he said to his brothers, 'What profit is it if we slay
our brother and conceal his blood?' Joseph observed the law: 'Thou
shalt not commit adultery,' when he repulsed the desire of the wife
of Potiphar. The other sons of Jacob observed the commandment:
'Thou shalt not steal,' saying: 'How then should we steal out of thy
lord's house silver and gold?' Abraham observed the
commandment: 'Thou shalt not bear false witness,' for he was a
true witness, and bore witness before all the world that Thou art
the Lord of all creation. It was Abraham, also, who observed the
last of the Ten Commandments 'Thou shalt not covet,' saying: 'I
will not take from a thread even to a shoe-latchet.'" [182]

THE CONTEST OF THE MOUNTAINS

While the nations and peoples were refusing to accept the Torah,
the mountains among themselves were fighting for the honor of
being chosen as the spot for the revelation. One said: "Upon me
shall the Shekinah of God rest, and mine shall be this glory,"
whereupon the other mountain replied: "Upon me shall the
Shekinah rest, and mine shall be this glory." The mountain of
Tabor said to the mountain of Hermon: "Upon me shall the
Shekinah rest, mine shall be this glory, for in times of old, when in
the days of Noah the flood came over the earth, all the mountains
that are under the heavens were covered with water, whereas it did
not reach my head, nay, not even my shoulder. All the earth was
sunk under water, but I, the highest of the mountains, towered high
above the waters, hence I am called upon to bear the Shekinah."
Mount Hermon replied to Mount Tabor: "Upon me shall the