[Avodah] Fables and Lies

[Rich, Joel]

Chazal used the story for a mashal. The question of whether the mashal
happened to also be what happened to occur or not isn't one that they
would have ever asked. Therefore, some could be historical, some not
-- it's not important and no one kept track. Even caring which is which
places you in a different perspective WRT the narrative than intended by
Chazal.

SheTir'u baTov!
-micha

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Agree, as long as we keep in mind that the story could have been
intended as  a memory device rather than a proof for the concept
(because otherwise we have the law of unintended consequences issue -
when someone looks at the same story and "proves" something else from
it).  I find in some cases it is viewed as a source proof text instead.

KT
Joel Rich
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