Part One, Chapters XX-XVII Summary

Elisha and his friends are at the home of Simeon ben Azzai, waiting for their host to appear so they can start their meeting. Simeon ben Azzai comes into the room and talks and chants and quotes scriptures and believes he is ready to meet God. He is completely insane and dies in their arms.

Elisha is at Nicholaus' shop, telling him of the past events, speaking of his growing obsession with finding the truth. Nicholaus tells him to repress these feelings, and when Elisha moans that he cannot, Nicholaus tells him he will stand by him as a friend.

In Palestine, a large number of Jews have gathered to begin war against the Romans. A small delegation of the Sanhedrin sages are there, alarmed at the prospect of fighting a war. Julianus of Tarsus is the...