Jerusalem turned out to do him honor, every one striving to be foremost to welcome him.  Calba Shevua, who for many a long year had repented of his hasty resolution, which cost him at once his daughter and his happiness, went to Akiva to ask his opinion about annulling this vow.  Akiva replied by making himself known as his quondam servant and rejected son-in-law.  As we may suppose, the two were at once reconciled, and Calba Shevua looked upon himself as favored of Heaven above all the fathers in Israel.

The Rabbis say that at first they used to communicate the Divine name of twelve letters to every one.  But when the Antinomians began to abound, the knowledge of this name was imparted only to the more discreet of the priestly order, and they repeated it hastily while the other priests pronounced the benediction of the people. (What the name was, says Rashi, is not known.) Rabbi Tarphon, the story goes on to say, once listened to the high priest, and overheard him hurriedly pronouncing this name of twelve letters while the other priests were blessing the people.

Kiddushin, fol. 71, col. 1.

Twelve hours there are in the day:—­The first three, the Holy One—­blessed be He!—­employs in studying the law; the next three He sits and judges the whole world; the third three He spends in feeding all the world; during the last three hours He sports with the leviathan; as it is said (Ps. civ. 26), “This leviathan Thou hast created to play with it.”

Avodah Zarah, fol. 3, col. 2.

Rabbi Yochanan bar Chanena said:—­The day consists of twelve hours.  During the first hour Adam’s dust was collected from all parts of the world; during the second it was made into a lump; during the third his limbs were formed; during the fourth his body was animated; during the fifth he stood upon his legs; during the sixth he gave names to the animals; during the seventh he associated with Eve; during the eighth Cain and a twin sister were born (Abel and his twin sister were born after the Fall, says the Tosephoth); during the ninth Adam was ordered not to eat of the forbidden tree; during the tenth he fell, during the eleventh he was judged; and during the twelfth he was ejected from paradise; as it is said (Ps. xlix. 13, A.V. 12), “Man (Adam) abode not one night in his dignity.”

Sanhedrin, fol. 38, col. 2.

Rabbi Akiva used to say:—­Of five judgments, some have lasted twelve months, others will do so;—­those of the deluge, of Job, of the Egyptians, of Gog and Magog, and of the wicked in Gehenna.

Edioth, chap. 2, mish. 10.

Plagues come upon those that are proud, as was the case with Uzziah (2 Chron. xxvi. 16), “But when he was strong (proud), his heart was lifted up to destruction.”  When the leprosy rose up in his forehead, the Temple was cleft asunder twelve miles either way.

Avoth d’Rab.  Nathan, chap. 9.