Ifra Hormiz Praises the Power of the Rabbis and the Jewish God

[There was] a certain man who was sentenced to be flogged by Rava’s court because he had relations with a gentile woman. Rava flogged [the man] and he died [as a result. When this] matter was heard [in] the house of [the Persian] King Shapur, he wanted to punish Rava for [imposing the death penalty, as he thought, without the king’s permission]. Ifra Hormiz, mother of King Shapur, said to her son, “Do not interfere [and quarrel] with the Jews, as whatever they request from [God], their Master, He gives them.” He said to her, “What is this [that He grants them?” She replied,] “They pray for mercy and rain comes.” He said to her, [“This does not prove that God hears their prayers,] as that [occurs merely] because it is the time for rain, [and it just so happens that rain falls after they pray]. Rather, [if you want to prove that God answers the prayers of the Jews,] let them pray for mercy now, in [the summer] season of Tammuz, and let rain come.” [Ifra Hormiz] sent [a message] to Rava: Direct your attention and pray for mercy that rain may come. He prayed for mercy, but rain did not come. He said before [God]: Master of the universe, [it is written]: O God, we have heard with our ears, our fathers have told us, what work You did in their days, in days of old (Psalm 44:2), but we have not seen it with our [own] eyes. [As soon as he said this,] rain came until the gutters of Meḥoza [overflowed and] poured into the Tigris [River. Rava’s] father came [and] appeared to him in a dream and said to him: Is there [anyone] who troubles heaven so much [to ask for rain out of its season? In his dream, his father further] said to him: Change your place [of rest at night]. He changed his place, and the next day he found that his bed had been slashed by knives.