Onkelos
Onkelos bar Kalonymus converted [to Judaism. The Roman] emperor sent a troop of Roman [soldiers] after him. [Onkelos] drew them [toward him] with verses [that he cited and learned with them, and] they converted. [The emperor] then sent another troop of Roman [soldiers] after him, [and] said to them, “Do not say anything to him, [so that he cannot convince you with his arguments.” The troops followed this instruction, and took Onkelos with them].
When they were walking, [Onkelos] said to [the troop of soldiers,] “I will say a mere statement to you: A minor official holds a torch before a high official, the high official [holds a torch] for a duke, a duke for the governor, [and] the governor for the ruler. Does the ruler hold a torch before [the common] people?” [The soldiers] said to [Onkelos,] “No.” [Onkelos] said to them, “[Yet] the Holy One, blessed be He, holds a torch before the Jewish people, as it is written: And the Lord went before them by day [in a pillar of cloud, to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light] (Exodus 13:21).” They all converted.
[The emperor] then sent another troop [of soldiers] after him [and] said to them, “Do not converse with him at all.” [The troops followed this instruction, and took Onkelos with them.] While they grabbed him and were walking, [Onkelos] saw a mezuzah that was placed on the doorway. He placed his hand upon it and said to [the soldiers:] What is this? They said to him, “You tell us.”
[Onkelos] said to them, “The [standard] practice [throughout the] world [is that] a king [of] flesh and blood sits inside [his palace], and his servants [stand] guard, [protecting] him outside; but [with regard to] the Holy One, blessed be He, His servants, [the Jewish people, sit] inside [their homes] and He guards over them outside. As it is stated: The Lord shall guard your going out and your coming in, from now and forever (Psalm 121:8).” [Upon hearing this, those soldiers also] converted [to Judaism. After that, the emperor] sent no more [soldiers] after him.
Published in: The Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization, vol. 2: Emerging Judaism.
