The Emperor said to R. Joshua son of Hananiah: "Your God is likened to a lion, as it is written: 'The lion hath roared, who will not fear!' (Amos 3.;8). Hence your God has been compared to a lion. What sort of strength does this signify? A strong man can kill a lion."

Then R. Joshua replied to the Emperor: "This does not mean an ordinary lion. The text means the lion of the forest of Ilai."

Then the Emperor said: "I should like to see that lion."

R. Joshua replied: "You cannot see it."

Then the Emperor said: "You must show him to me whether you want to or not."

Then R. Joshua began to pray and the lion came out of his den. When he was 400 miles away from the place where the Emperor was, he began to roar, as lions do. All the pregnant women, shaken by the terrible voice, miscarried, and the wall of Rome fell down. When he was 300 miles away, he began roaring again and the teeth of the people dropped out of their mouths and the Emperor fell from his throne through fear. Then the Emperor said to R. Joshua: "I asked you to pray that I might see the lion, now I ask you to pray that the lion may return to the lair whence he came, for if he should come still nearer, he would destroy the whole world."

Then R. Joshua prayed, and the lion returned to his resting place.