Quotation על דברים 4:43

We are taught in a Baraitha that if a disciple is exiled, his master is exiled with him; for it is written (Deut. 4, 42) "And that fleeing unto one of these cities, he might live," which means that you shall supply him with the sources of moral life. And R. Zera said: "From this we infer, that one shall not teach a disciple of bad character.' R. Jochanan said: "If the head of a college is to be exiled, then the whole college should be exiled with him." Is that so? Did not R. Jochanan say: Whence do we infer that the study of the Torah is a protectorate [for one who deserves exile]? From the following verse (Ib., ib) And Bezer in the wilderness, and immediately after this it is written, And this is the law [hence a scholar could not be exiled?] This presents no difficulty. It relieves only at the time he is occupied with study, but not otherwise. And if you please, I say that the above relief refers to that received from the Angel of Death; as it happened with R. Chisda, who was studying continuously, that the Angel of Death could not come near him because he did not stop studying, until the Angel climbed a cedar-tree in the yard of the college, when the tree broke down, the noise stopped his study, and the Angel of Death took hold of him.