(R. Yochanan): Do not trust a slave until 16 generations - "Ba Yishmael ben Nesanyah ben Elishama mi'Zera ha'Meluchah va'Yakeh Es Rav Gedalyah ba'Mitzpah." (Yishmael was the 16th generation from Yarcha, a Mitzri slave who was freed - Rashi Divrei ha'Yamim 1:2:35.)

(R. Yehoshua ben Levi): A Rosh (head of a Shevet) and a Chacham - the Rosh precedes a Chacham who is not a Rosh.

What is the source? "Atem NItzavim ha'Yom Kulchem...", and it says "va'Ye'esof Yehoshua Es Kol Ziknei Yisrael Shechemah."

Implied question: Moshe put Roshim before Zekenim, and Yehoshua put Zekenim before Roshim!

Answer #1: Moshe, since all of them were his Talmidim, he put Roshim before Zekenim. Yehoshua, since not all of them were his Talmidim, he put Zekenim before Roshim. (ALEI TAMAR - indeed, it is proper to put the Rosh first. Yehoshua, amidst his great humility, saw reasons to put the Zekenim first. These reasons did not apply to Moshe.)

Answer #2: Moshe did not need [Zekenim] to conquer [Eretz Yisrael], so he put Roshim before Zekenim. Yehoshua, since he needed [Zekenim] to conquer [and divide] the land, he put Zekenim before Roshim.

Answer #3: Moshe did not toil in Talmud Torah (it was given to him for a gift, and in the Midbar he taught everything only once), he put Roshim before Zekenim. Yehoshua, who toiled in Talmud Torah, he put Zekenim before Roshim.

Note: Moshe criticized Yisrael for accepting smaller judges, and not insisting that he, who endured pain for Torah, judge them (Rashi Devarim 1:14, from Sifri)! Hash-m told Moshe "you toiled greatly for Torah" (Vayikra Rabah 31:5)! Perhaps Yehoshua toiled even more, although the words "Moshe did not toil" connote unlike this.

(R. Yehoshua of Sichnin citing R. Levi): Moshe, since he saw with Ru'ach ha'Kodesh that in the future, Yisrael will need to serve the kingdoms, and their leaders will stand over them [to seek their benefit], he put Roshim before Zekenim.

(Beraisa): A Sudran (one who has the Mishnayos and Beraisos are arranged in his mouth), he precedes the Pilpalan (one with sharp analytical skills).

Question (R. Shmuel, the brother of R. Berachiyah): Is this even [for a Pilpalan] like R. Ami?

Objection: What do you ask from R. Ami?! He is [the ultimate] Sudran and [the ultimate] Pilpalan!

Inference: [The Beraisa] teaches that Mishnah comes before Mikra.

Support: R. Shimon taught that engaging in Mikra is a [good] Midah, but it is not [the greatest] Midah. (Mishnah is greater, and Talmud is even greater.)

Rabanan consider Mikra like Mishnah.

(R. Shmuel bar Nachman): Mishnah comes before Talmud.

What is the source? "Kene Chachmah Kene Vinah..."

(R. Yochanan): Talmud comes before Mishnah.

What is the source? "Keno Chachmah Mah Tov me'Charutz [u'Knos Binah Nivchar mi'Kesef]." (When one has only Chachmah, i.e. Mishnah, it is better than gold. When one has also Binah, i.e. Talmud, Chachmah is not as important, so Chachmah is merely called better than silver.)

Question: How does R. Yochanan explain R. Shmuel bar Nachman's source?

Answer: Water is cheap and wine is expensive. [Even so, one first acquires water, for] one can always live without wine, but one can never live without water.

Question: How does R. Shmuel bar Nachman explain R. Yochanan's source?

Answer: Salt is cheap and peppers are expensive. [Even so, salt is more important, for] one can always live without peppers, but one can never live without salt (peppers do not help without salt).

One should always run to [review] Mishnah more than Talmud.

Limitation: This is before his Rebbi ingrained in him most of the Mishnayos, but once his Rebbi ingrained in him most of the Mishnayos, really, he should run to Talmud more than Mishnah.

(R. Shmuel brei d'R. Yosi bei R. Bun): "Chacham b'Einav Ish Ashir v'Dal Mevin Yachkerenu." One who is a Chacham in his own eyes is rich - this refers to a Ba'al Talmud. An Oni who understands will defeat him - this is a Ba'al Agada. (ALEI TAMAR Pe'ah 2:4 - we learn Halachos from Agados when they do not contradict the Talmud.)

A parable for this is two who entered a city. One of them is carrying chunks of gold, and one has small coins. The one carrying chunks of gold cannot spend them (very few people know their value) and [buy food] to live. The one with small coins can spend them and live. (People listen to a Ba'al Agados.)

(R. Acha): "Peles u'Moznei Mishpat la'Shem Ma'asehu Kol Avnei Kis" - Peles refers to Mikra. Moznei is Mishnah. Mishpat is Talmud. La'Shem is Tosefta. Ma'asehu Kol Avnei Kis - all of them receive reward from one pouch.

R. Aba bar Kahana went to a place. He found R. Levi expounding "Ish Asher Yiten Lo ha'Elokim Osher u'Nechasim v'Chavod v'Einenu Chaser l'Nafsho mi'Kol Asher Yis'aveh v'Lo Yashlitenu ha'Elokim Le'echol Mimenu Ki Ish Nochri Yochalenu";

Osher is Mikra. Nechasim are Halachos. Kavod is Tosefta. V'Einenu Chaser l'Nafsho mi'Kol Asher Yis'aveh - these are great Mishnayos, like the Mishnah of Rav Huna and the Mishnah of R. Hoshayah and the Mishnah of Bar Kapara;

V'Lo Yashlitenu ha'Elokim Le'echol Mimenu - this is a Ba'al Agada. He does not forbid, permit, Metamei or Metaher. Ki Ish Nochri Yochalenu - this is a Ba'al Talmud.

R. Aba bar Kahana got up and kissed [R. Levi] on his head, and said "you merited to say this standing [in your youth]. You should merit to say this sitting [in your old age as Rosh Yeshivah expounding to many]!"

Question: If they want to appoint Chachamim, from where to they appoint - from Tiverya, or from the south [of Eretz Yisrael]?

Answer #1 (R. Simon): "Yehudah Ya'aleh" (Yehudah is in the south).

Objection (and Answer #2 - R. Mana): That is for war, but for appointment, "Ro'ei Pnei ha'Melech ha'Yoshvim Rishonah ba'Malchus" (in Tiverya they see the Nasi).

(R. Yakov bar Idi citing Reish Lakish): A case occurred in which Chachamim entered the Aliyah of Beis Gadya, and a Bas Kol (voice from Heaven) said "there are among you two who are proper for Ru'ach ha'Kodesh, and Hillel ha'Zaken is one of them." They put their eyes on Shmuel ha'Katan (he is the other).

Later, Chachamim entered the Aliyah in Yavneh, and a Bas Kol said "there are among you two who are proper for Ru'ach ha'Kodesh, and Shmuel ha'Katan is one of them." They put their eyes on Eliezer ben Hurkenus, and they were happy that [the first time] they concurred with Ru'ach ha'Kodesh.

People of R. Pazi's house and of R. Hoshayah's house used to ascend and greet the Nasi every day. People of R. Hoshayah's house used to go first;

People of R. Pazi's house married into the Nasi's family. [Due to this] they wanted to greet the Nasi first. They asked R. Ami;

(R. Ami) Question: "Va'Hakemosa Es ha'Mishkan k'Mishpato" - is there a proper way for [how to erect] wood?!

Answer: Rather, a board that merited to be put in the north will [always] be put in the north. [One that merited to be put] in the south will be put in the south. (R. Hoshayah's house will continue to go first.)

Two families in Tziporin, Balvatiya and Pagniya, used to ascend and greet the Nasi every day. Balvatiya used to go first and leave first. Pagniya merited [greatness] in Torah. [Due to this] they wanted to greet the Nasi first. They asked Reish Lakish, and Reish Lakish asked R. Yochanan.

R. Yochanan rose and expounded in the Beis Midrash of R. Benayah - even a Mamzer Talmid Chacham and a Kohen Gadol Am ha'Aretz, the Mamzer Talmid Chacham comes before the Kohen Gadol Am ha'Aretz.

Assumption: They thought that this is to redeem, sustain and clothe, but not for sitting [in the esteemed place].

Rebuttal (R. Avun): It is even for sitting.

What is the source? We learn from "Yekarah Hi mi'Peninim" (Torah is dearer than pearls), and even [dearer] than [a Kohen Gadol] who enters Lifnai v'Lifnim (the Kodesh ha'Kodoshim).