fore he had ended his words his soul went forth. And they knew of a truth that there the Ark was hidden."
There was a tradition with the disciples of Rabbi Ishmael, that two priests were examining the wood (to be burnt upon the altar}, when the axe of one fell, and a flame went forth and consumed him,—Yoma 53b, 54a.
. . . . There were thirteen places of prostration in the sanctuary. But in the time of Rabban Gamaliel and Rabbi Chanina, the second High Priest, they prostrated themselves at fourteen places, And where was the additional place? By the wood pile; for they had received a tradition from their fathers that the Ark was hidden there. It is related that a priest, while wrapt in contemplation, perceived that one of the stones differed in appearance from the others, And he forthwith went to apprise his comrade; but before he had ended his words, his soul went forth, And they knew of a truth that there the Ark was hidden.—Jerus. Shekalim, ch. 16.
Stanza 7, line 4. The Shechinah withdrew by ten stages—from the Mercy Seat to one Cherub, from one Cherub to the other, from the Cherub to the Threshold, from the Threshold to the Court, from the Court to the Altar, from the Altar to the Roof, from the Roof to the Wall, from the Wall to the City, from the City to the Mount, and from the Mount to the Wilderness. From the Wilderness it ascended and abode in its place, as it is said, "I will go and return unto My place."—Rosh ha-Shanah 31a.
