Once upon a time there lived a pious man, who was accustomed to read the prayers on New Year and on the Day of Atonement, the congregation having selected him to do this because he was a very pious man. When he became very old, he refused to read the prayers any more on New Year and the Day of Atonement, and when he was asked: "Why do you refuse to read now, after having read for so many years?" he said: "If I should read now and should die during the year, my son would claim the right to read as my successor, but he is not yet worthy to read the prayers on such holy days; therefore I will invite some one else to do the reading." And he appointed a man who was pious and wise and learned and worthy of the office.

The old man was so good that he did not want his son to succeed him in the office. For this was the reason why Eli the priest was punished, namely because, knowing that his sons were not pious, he did not rebuke them. He should have removed them from the priesthood and put others in their place, but he did not do so. Therefore he fell from his chair and broke his neck (d. I Sam. 4.18). Therefore only old and

pious men should be appointed to recite prayers on New Year and the Day of Atonement, for they know what the prayers mean.