Caesar said to
Rabbi Tanchum, “Come, let us become one nation.” Rabbi Tanchum replied,
“Fine! However, we, who are circumcised, cannot become like you. You
therefore circumcise yourself and become like us.” Caesar said, “You
argued well. But whoever bests the king must be thrown into the pen of
wild beasts.” They threw Rabbi Tanchum into the pen, but the beasts did
not eat him. A certain Sadducee said to Caesar, “The reason the beasts
did not eat him is that they are not hungry.” They threw the Sadducee to
the beasts, and they ate him.
A certain heretic said to Rabbi Avina, “Who is like Your people,
Israel, one nation in the land...?” But what is unique about them, “All the nations are like
nothing before Him...” - and you are included! Rabbi Avina
answered, “Your prophet, Bilaam, has testified about us, ...And among nations you are not
counted.”
Art: Peter Paul Rubens - Daniel in the Lion's Den