Alexander Tries to Enter the Jerusalem Temple

[Alexander the Macedonian] desired to go up to Jerusalem. The Samaritans said to him, “Beware, for they will not let you enter their holy of holies.” When Geviah the son of Kosem discovered this, he went and made [Alexander] two felt shoes and placed in them two precious stones worth twenty thousand pieces of silver. When [Alexander] reached the Temple Mount, [Geviah] said to him, “Your majesty the king, remove your sandals, and I will place these two felt shoes on your feet, for the floor is smooth, so that your feet shall not slip.” When [Alexander] reached the holy of holies, [Geviah] said to him, “[Only] up to here do we [Jews] have permission to enter. From here on, we do not have permission to enter.” [Alexander] said to him, “When we leave, I shall straighten your humpback!” [Geviah] said to him, “[If you are able to do that,] you shall be called a faithful healer and be able to claim a high wage.”

Translated by Matthew Goldstone.