Midrash su Proverbi 12:10

R. Akiba was a shepherd [in the employ of the rich] ben Kalba Shebua. The latter's daughter observed him to be a very pious and talented man. She said to him: "If I marry you, will you go to a college [to study the Torah?"] "Indeed, surely, "was his response. They were married secretly and she sent him off to the college. When her father became aware of this secret marriage he ordered her to leave his house and vowed that she should not enjoy the benefit of his estate. Akiba went and spent twelve years at the college, and on his return, led with him twelve thousand disciples. On nearing [the dwelling of his devoted wife] he overheard a conversation of an old woman who said: "How long (Fol. 63) is this unfortunate woman going to lead the life of a widow?" Whereupon she replied: "If my husband would hearken unto me, he would stay there twelve more year." R. Akiba said to himself: "Since she gives me permission I will act according to her advice." He immediately returned and spent twelve years more in the college. When he returned he brought with him twenty-four thousand disciples. His wife, having been informed [of his arrival] went out to meet him, and when her neighbors proposed to her that she borrow dressing garments wherewith to cover herself, she replied to them (Pr. 12, 10) A righteous man feeleth the life of his beast. When she reached him, she prostrated herself before him and kissed his feet. When his attendants were about to push her away, R. Akiba remarked to them: "Let her alone, for mine [Torah] and yours are due to her. Her father [who regretted his hasty decision], having been informed that such a great scholar had arriver in town, said: "I shall go to see him, perhaps he will invalidate my vow [which I made against my suffering daughter."] There he went, and upon the visitor's question whether his intention was to make the vow [against her] even if she had married a great scholar, he replied: "Not even if her husband should be able to learn as little as one chapter or even one Halacha." Thereupon R. Akiba said: "I am the one." Kalba Shebua immediately fell face forward upon R. Akiba's feet and kissed them, giving him one-half of his entire fortune. R. Akiba's daughter did the same thing with ben Azai, and this is the meaning of the saying. "Eve follows eve, as the mother acts, so does the daughter."

R. Akiba was betrothed to the daughter of Bar Kalba Shabua. When the latter was informed of it he made a vow that she should not have the privilege of enjoying anything of his entire estate. They were married during the winter, and in order to keep them warm they used to sleep upon straw. Akiba, while picking out the straw from his wife's head, remarked to her that if he became rich he would make her a golden plate upon which Jerusalem will be engraved. One day Elijah, disguised as a poor man, came and knocked at the door. He said to them: "Give me some of the straw, for my wife is lying in confinement and I have nothing to cover her." "See," remarked R. Akiba to his wife, "there is a man who has not even straw to cover himself." "Go and become a student," she proposed to him. Whereupon he went and spent twelve years before R. Elazar and R. Joshua. At the expiration of the twelve years he came to his house. Before entering it he overheard his wife conversing. One wicked man said to her: "Your father served you right, first, because your husband is not equal to you, and secondly, see he left you a widow of a living husband for so many years." Whereupon she responded: "If my husband should take my advice he would remain twelve more years." R. Akiba then said to himself: "Since she gives me permission, I shall immediately return." And so he did. He went back and remained there twelve more years. At the expiration of the twelve years he returned with twenty-four thousand disciples. The entire community went out to welcome him, and also his wife arose early in order to welcome him. A certain wicked woman said to her: "Where art thou going?" Whereupon she answered (Pr. 12, 10) A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast. When she came to see him, she was pushed away by several of the Rabbis. Whereupon R. Akiba said to them: "Let her come, for my Torah and yours is hers." Her father was informed that a great man had arrived in town, so he went to get an annulment of his vow, and he enriched him with all his estate.

And God remembered Noah (Gen. 8:1). Scripture says elsewhere in reference to this verse: A righteous man regardeth the life of his beasts; but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel (Prov. 12:10). The Righteous One of the world, however, regardeth the life even of a beast, even when He is angered, for His ways are not the ways of man.