6. It happened that the elders went down from Jerusalem to their cities, and proclaimed fasting, because the blasting appeared, as much as would fill an oven, in Askelon. And again they proclaimed a fast, because the wolves devoured two children beyond Jordan: Rabbi José said, “not because they devoured them, but because the wolves were seen.”
7. For these things men blow an alarm on the Sabbath—for a city, encompassed by Gentiles, or by a flood, and for a ship tossed in the sea. Rabbi José said, “for help, but not for a cry of distress.” Simon the Temanite said, “also for pestilence,” but the Sages did not admit it.
8. For all distress—may it not come on the congregation—men sound an alarm, except for too much rain. It happened that they said to Honé Hammeagal, “pray that the rain come down”: he said to them, “go and bring in the passover ovens, that they be not dissolved.” He prayed, but the rain did not come down—What did he do? He dug a hole and stood in it, and said before HIM, “Our Lord of the world, thy sons have turned toward me, because I am a son of the House in Thy Presence. I am sworn in Thy great Name, that I move not from hence, till Thou have pity on Thy children.” The rain began to drop; he said, “I did not ask it thus, but rains for wells, pits, and caves.” The rain began to descend with storm. He said, “I did not ask it thus, but reasonable rain, with blessing and free-will.” The showers came down as they ought, until all Israel went up from Jerusalem to the Mount of Olives on account of the rains. They came and said to him, “as thou hast prayed that the rains should come down, so pray that they may depart.” He said to them, “go and see if the Stone of Proclamation(337) be covered.” Simon the son of Shatach sent to him word, “if thou wert not Honé, I would excommunicate thee; but what shall I do to thee, since thou prayest before OMNIPRESENCE, and He does thy will, as a son who plays upon his father, and he does his will? and for thee the Scripture says, ‘Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice.’ ”(338)
9. “If men were fasting and the rains came down for them before the sun rose?” “They need not complete the day.” “If the rains came down after sunrise?” “They must complete it.” R. Eliezer said, “before noon they need not complete it, if after noon they must complete it.” It happened, that the rulers proclaimed a fast in Lydda, and the rains came down in the forenoon. Said R. Tarphon, “go and eat, and drink, and make holiday.” They went and ate and drank, and made holiday, and they came in the evening and read the great Thanksgiving.(339)