The Story of the Jew and the Christian Who Met Their Doom

I am truly astonished by this preoccupation that has deluded both the learned and the ignorant, causing them all to perish through idle hope and voracious greed—just as the Jew and the Christian were destroyed.

They asked, “Tell us, how did that happen?”

Antunus replied:

Two men—one a Jew, the other a Christian—journeyed together to a region where they hoped to buy precious stones. They travelled through inhabited land, rich in water, until they reached a well. Beyond that well lay a barren wasteland whose crossing would take four days. Each of them carried a waterskin. The Jew filled his, and when the Christian moved to draw water the Jew said, “This one waterskin will suffice for us; do not overburden our animals.”

The Christian answered, “I know the route better than you.”

The Jew retorted, “You merely want to drink whenever you feel thirsty.”

“No,” the Christian replied. Nevertheless, he left his waterskin empty and set off with his companion, fully aware that he would need water later.

When the two were deep in the wasteland, a fierce, scorching wind struck them and exhausted the water they had. They sat down on the path, blaming each other. The Christian said to the Jew, “Nothing has destroyed us but your vile opinion. You did this only because of the hostility between us regarding Christ.”

The Jew answered, “Do you imagine I wanted to kill you and kill myself as well?”

The Christian retorted, “May God cast you far away, just as you showed me no mercy.”

The Jew said, “Woe to you! I only forbade you to carry water because your donkey was weak, and I did not want you to have to walk.” He said—