פֿאַרבונדענע פּסוקים אויף משלי 3:15

Two families were in Sepphoris, one of city councillors and one rural, who were greeting the Patriarch every day. The councillors went in first and left first. The rural ones went and acquired [knowledge in] Torah. They came and wanted to have precedence. It was asked before Rebbi Simeon ben Laqish. Rebbi Simeon ben Laqish asked it from Rebbi Joḥanan. Rebbi Joḥanan went up and preached in Rebbi Benaiah’s house of study: “But if the bastard was learned and the High Priest ignorant, the learned bastard precedes the ignorant High Priest.” They wanted to say, to be redeemed, for clothing, and for livelihood, but not for the Academy. Rebbi Abbin said, even for the Academy. What is the reason? It is more precious than pearls⁶³The following two paragraphs are from Horaiot 3:7, Notes 328–336., even than he who enters into the Most Holy [of the Sanctuary.]

³³¹A parallel text (שׁ) is in Šabbat 12:3 (13c l. 62 ff.) The text here is primary; there the story is told as an appendix to the argument of R. Immi which, however, responds not to the question asked about precedence but about Sabbath prohibitions as explained in Note 329. Two families were in Sepphoris, one of city councillors³³²Greek βουλευταί. and one rural³³³Latin pagani., who were greeting the Patriarch every day. The councillors went in first and left first. The rural ones went and acquired [knowledge in] Torah. They came and wanted to have precedence. It was asked before Rebbi Simeon ben Laqish. Rebbi Simeon ben Laqish asked it from Rebbi Joḥanan. Rebbi Joḥanan went up and preached in Rebbi Benaiah’s house of study³³⁴The text of B, “of Tiberias” has to be rejected. Not only is the text of L confirmed by the text in Šabbat, but also the remark that he “went up” refers to going from Tiberias below Sea level to Sepphoris high in the mountains but also the entire story is placed at Sepphoris and only there a public ruling was needed.: “But if the bastard was learned and the High Priest ignorant, the learned bastard precedes the ignorant High Priest³³⁵Mishnah 3:9..” They wanted to say, to be redeemed, for livelihood, and for clothing, but not for the Academy. Rebbi Abun said, even for the Academy. What is the reason? It is more precious than pearls³³⁶Prov.. 3:15., even than he who enters into the Most Holy [of the Sanctuary.]