Midrasch zu Ijow 28:14

When Rabbi Simon bar Zevid died, Rabbi Eila got up and eulogized him with these verses: “But wisdom, where shall it be found.… Man does not know its value” (Job 28:12–13). “It is hidden from the eyes of all living” (Job 28:21). “The depths say: It is not in me” (Job 28:14). If so, a Torah scholar who died, how can we find his replacement? There are four items that are commonly used in the world, and all of them, if they are eliminated, they have replacements. They are: “For there is a source for silver, and a place for gold that they refine; iron is taken from the dust, and bronze is molten from stone” (Job 28:1–2). But, a Torah scholar who died, who will bring us his replacement? We lost Rabbi Simon; who will bring us his replacement? Rabbi Levi said: The tribes found a lost item⁷¹The sons of Jacob found that the money they had paid to purchase produce in Egypt had been returned to their sacks. and wondered, and their hearts sank, as it is stated: “Their hearts sank and they trembled” (Genesis 42:28). We, who lost Rabbi Simon bar Zevid, all the more so.