Issachar of the town of Barkai was a high priest who paid much attention to his person but did not pay sufficient respect to the sacrifice.

Whenever he brought the portions of the sacrifice to the altar, he wrapped a silken handkerchief around his hands so that they should not be contaminated or soiled with the blood. I will tell you now what his end was.

One day King Jannaeus and his wife were having a discussion. The king said: "The flesh of a young kid is better to eat than that of a ewe lamb."

The queen said: "No, the flesh of a ewe lamb is better than that of a kid."

So they said: "Who can tell us? Let us ask Issachar, the high priest; he knows, for he is constantly engaged in sacrifice."

They sent for him and asked him which was the better.

Whereupon he replied: "Of course the flesh of a ewe is better, for otherwise the kid would be used for the tamid sacrifice."

While he was speaking, he was gesticulating with his hands as though he were mocking the king.

King Jannaeus said: "Since he mocks me with his gesticulations, I will have his right hand cut off."

Issachar gave a huge bribe to the executioner and instead of the right, the left hand was cut off. When the king heard of it, he ordered the right hand to be cut off

also, and thus Issachar lost both hands.

Then R. Joseph said: "Blessed be the Lord who punished the guilt of the man of Barkai in this world."

And in the Talmud it is further explained that Issachar was mistaken, for both are

equally good. The moral of the story is that no one should be arrogant when he reaches a high position, for God has everything in His hands to give and to take away. Therefore every man should cultivate modesty, and not be arrogant like Issachar of Barkai.