The Kings  of Israel 

מלכי ישראל

It is related about two Sages that no matter what happened, good or bad, they would invariably declare that it too was for the best. Even when they encountered unfortunate situations they did not lose their faith, and merited divine salvation.  

Why did they call him Nahum man of Gam Zu? Because any matter that would happen to him, he would say: This too is for the best [gam zu letova].

Once, the Jews wished to send a gift to the house of the emperor. They asked: Who should go to deliver this gift? Let Nahum man of Gam Zu go, as he is experienced with miracles.  

They sent with him a chest full of precious stones and pearls, and he went and spent the night in a certain inn. During the night, some people staying at the inn arose and took all the contents of the chest, and filled it with earth. The next day, when he saw what had happened, Nahum man of Gam Zu said: This too is for the best. When he reached the palace, they opened the chest and saw that it was filled with earth. The king sought to execute all the members of the Jewish delegation; the king said: The Jews are mocking me. Nahum man of Gam Zu said: This too is for the best.  

Elijah the prophet came and appeared to them as one of the Roman officials. He said to the emperor: Perhaps this earth is from the earth of their forefather Abraham, as when he would throw earth, it became swords, and when he threw stubble, it became arrows… There was a certain province that the Romans had been unable to conquer. They tested the earth, and it turned into swords, and they conquered that province. They entered the treasury and filled the chest that had been filled with earth with precious jewels and pearls and sent Nahum man of Gam Zu off with great honor. 

When the delegation came to spend the night at that inn, those staying there said to him: What did you bring with you to the emperor that he bestowed upon you such great honor? Nahum man of Gam Zu said to them: What I took from here, I brought there. They tore down their inn and brought the soil underneath to the emperor’s palace, and said to him: That earth that was brought here earlier was from our property. The emperor tested the earth in battle, and did not find it to have miraculous powers, and they executed those people. 

A person should always be accustomed to saying: Everything that the Merciful One does, He does for the best. 

Like this incident involving Rabbi Akiva, who was walking along the way and reached a certain city. He sought lodging but they did not give him any. He said: Everything that the Merciful One does, He does for the best. He went and spent the night in a field, and he had with him a rooster, a donkey, and a candle. A gust of wind came and extinguished the candle; a cat came and ate the rooster; a lion came and ate the donkey. He said: Everything that the Merciful One does, He does for the best. That night, an army came and captured the city. He said to his students: Didn’t I tell you? Everything that the Merciful One does, He does for the best.<footnote data-num="31"/> <source>(Ta’anit 21a; Berakhot 60b) </source>