The Gem. seems to say that the Rabanan didn't know the meaning of some words until they heard the maidservant of Rebbi's household use these words. Some of these words were from Mishnayos and Baraisos and Mishlei. If they didn't understand the word while they were learning, why didn't they ask them while learning? But perhaps learning the meaning of these words from a worker in Rebbi's house is acceptable.

But the Gem. also says that they did not know the meaning of 'yehavcha' from Tehilim. And the meaning of this word Rabba Bar Chana learned from an Arab. Now, Rabba bar bar Chana and the other Rabanan must have said Tehilim many many times before this incident. How did they understand the word till then?! And if you want to answer that it is more than the mere transalation of the word Yehavcha that they learnt from the Arab (similar to what the Chavrusa brings down); then I ask you "Can one learn such vital and important life lessons from the words in the chance meeting of an Arab on the road"?!

Kol Tuv

alex lebovits, toronto, canada