252. When Rabbi Chiya came before Rabbi? and told him the story, Rabbi was amazed. His father, Rabbi Shimon ben Gamliel said to him, My son, Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai is a lion, and his son Rabbi Elazar is a lion, and Rabbi Shimon is not like the other lions. About him is written, "A lion has roared, who will not fear?" (Amos 3:8). Now that the higher worlds tremble before him, we certainly do. He is man who never decreed a fast for what he asked or prayed for. He would just decree and the Holy One, blessed be He, would fulfill. The Holy One, blessed be He, decrees and he annuls. This is what we learned of the meaning of the passage, "He that rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear of Elohim" (II Shmuel 23:3). The Holy One, blessed be He, rules over man, and who rules over the Holy One, blessed be He, but the righteous man? For He decrees and the righteous man annuls it.