Alexander of Macedon was a mighty king who conquered the whole world. Having achieved such power, he ordered his servants to worship him as a god. The wise men among his servants said to him that he had no power over Jerusalem and the temple. Thereupon he went forth and conquered Jerusalem, and demanded that they too should worship him as a god.

Three wise men were sitting before him. One of them said: "Will you rebel against your master in His own house? Go out of His house and I will worship you as a god. For His house is heaven and earth and you are therein. As long as you are therein I cannot worship you as a god."

The second said: "You say that you are God? God created heaven and earth and you too. You are nothing."

The third said: "Wait awhile, I have a message to send; after that I will worship you as a god."

Alexander said: "What is it that you must do?"

The wise man replied: "A ship of mine is now on the high seas and is about to sink."

Thereupon the king said: "I will send my ships at once to rescue yours."

The sage replied; "By the time your ship arrives, mine will have sunk. Do me the kindness and send a little wind to carry it forward."

The king replied: "Where shall I get the wind?"

The sage said: "If you cannot command the wind, you are not a god, for it is written: 'God created heaven and earth and the people upon it' " (d. Is. 42.5).

The king went home and told his wife all that had happened to him, and asked her to worship him as a god.

She replied: "I will do it gladly, but you have a deposit which has been entrusted

to you. Give up the deposit and I will do your will and worship you as a God."

Then the king asked: "What is the deposit?"

His wife replied: "The soul which God gave you. Return it to the owner."

The king said: "If I give back my soul, what can I do without a soul?"

The wife replied: "If you have no power over yourself, how can you have power over others and be a god?"

When the king heard this, he felt ashamed and gave up his evil intention.