Midrash su I Cronache 8:38

(Fol. 62 b) R. Simlai came before R. Jochanan, and said to him: "Teach me the Book of Records (Chronicles)." "Whence art thou?" asked R. Jochanan. "From Lydia," he answered. "And where dost thou reside? "I reside in Nechardea." Whereupon R. Jochanan said to him: "It is prohibited to teach to inhabitants of either Lydia or Nehardea the contents of the Book of Chronicles, and so much the more to thee who art both a native of Lydia and resideth at Nehardea." R. Simlai, however, compelled R. Jochanan to give him the instruction. "I wish that the master would teach me all the contents within three months," said R. Simlai. Whereupon R. Jochanan replied: "Behold! If Beruria, the wife of R. Meier, the daughter of R. Chanan b. Teradion, who could learn three hundred traditions [of law) in one winter day from three hundred great men, was unable to master the contents of the Book of Chronicles after she had studied it for three years, how couldst thou ask me to teach it all to thee in three months? " R. Jochanan then took a clod of earth and threw it at him. While R. Simlai was running away, he said: "Rabbi, can you explain to me what the difference is between him who slays the paschal lamb for its actual purpose, and him who slays it not for its actual purpose [upon which the Mishnah declares the latter act to be invalid]; and that between one who slays the paschal lamb for those who will partake of it, and him who slays it for those who may not partake of it [both of which the Mishnah declares are valid]?" "So! Then thou art a young scholar," remarked R. Jochanan. "Come, and I shall teach thee."Rami b. Abin, in the name of Rab, said: "From the day when the Book of Genealogy was forgotten, the power of the sages diminished and the light of their eyes became dim; for the master said between the passages (I Chr. 8, 38) From one Azel unto the other Azel, the sages had four hundred camel-loads of critical researches."