Napoleon Asks About Moscow

When Napoleon's conquering army passed through Lelov, Napoleon heard of a holy man, Rav Dovid, who could foretell the future. He went to visit him and asked whether he would be able to conquer Moscow.

Rav Dovid did not want to answer until Napoleon promised not to harm him if he did not like the answer. Napoleon agreed. Rav Dovid told him that he would suffer a crushing defeat and would not achieve his goals.

Napoleon replied that if Rav Dovid was correct he would not harm him, but if Napoleon won the war, Rav Dovid would come to a bitter end. On his way back through Lelov, Napoleon bowed down before Rav Dovid, told him that he had been right, and gave him a royal gift.