Jewish Fairy Tales and Legends, by Aunt Naomi (pseud. Gertrude
Landa), , at sacred-texts.com One day a strange rumbling noise
was heard, and toward evening the army halted by the side of a
river even more mysterious than the River of Life. It was not a
river of water, but of sand and stones. It flowed along with a
roaring sound and every few minutes great stones were shot up
into the air. Alexander asked the Jewish soldier if he could
explain. "This," said the Jew, "is the Sambatyon, the river
which ceases to flow on the Sabbath." "And what lies beyond?"
"The land of the Lost Ten Tribes of Israel," was the answer.
"None have seen this country." "Cannot the river then be
crossed?" asked Alexander. "Not by all who wish to cross." The
next day was Friday, and Alexander waited until the evening to
see what would happen. An hour before sunset, at the time of the
commencement of Sabbath, the river ceased to flow. The rumbling
died down and the Sambatyon appeared like a broad expanse of
shining yellow sand. "To-morr