187. “He departed from him and was about, etc.” He departed from him and was about to enter the ship. There were two men with him. He saw two birds approaching and flying over the sea. He raised his voice and proclaimed: “Birds, birds, since you fly over the sea, have you seen the place where the son of Yoḥai is?” He waited a little [and then] declared: “Birds, birds, go and bring me a reply.” They flew away, entered the sea, and departed.

Explanation: Rabbi Shimon had fled from the [Roman] monarchy, which had ordered his execution, and he and his son had hidden themselves in a cave (as recounted in Shabbat 33b), and thus they did not know where he was. For this reason, Rabbi Pineḥas Ben Yair set out to look for him in the islands of the sea.