Ketubot

The one  is a positive precept and the other  is also a positive precept. but the positive precept of shewing respect for the Torah  must take precedence. He, therefore, postponed  the orphans' case and brought up that man's suit. When the other party  noticed the honour he was shewing him  he remained speechless.  [Until that happened] Elijah  was a frequent visitor of R. Anan whom he was teaching the Order of Elijah.  but as soon as he  acted in the manner described  [Elijah] stayed away. He  Spent his time  in fasting, and in prayers for [God's] mercy, [until Elijah] came to him again; but when he appeared he greatly frightened him. Thereupon he  made a box [for himself] and in it he sat before him until he concluded his Order with him. And this is [the reason] why people speak of the Seder Eliyyahu Rabbah and the Seder Eliyyahu Zuta. In the days  of R. Joseph there was a famine.  Said the Rabbis to R. Joseph, 'Will the Master offer prayers for [heavenly] mercy'? He replied, 'If Elisha, with whom, when the [main body of] Rabbis had departed, there still remained two thousand and two hundred Rabbis,  did not offer up any prayers for mercy in a time of famine,  should I [at such a time venture to] offer prayers for mercy? But whence is it inferred that so many remained? — [From Scripture] where it is written, And his servant said: How should I set this before a hundred men.?  Now what is meant by [the expression.] 'Before a hundred men'? If it be suggested that all  [was to be set] before the hundred men [one might well object that] in years of famine [all this] is rather a large quantity. Consequently it must be concluded  that each [loaf was set] before a hundred men. When the [main body of] Rabbis departed from the school of Rab there still remained behind one thousand and two hundred Rabbis; [when they departed] from the school of R. Huna there remained behind eight hundred Rabbis. R. Huna when delivering his discourses [was assisted] by thirteen interpreters.  When the Rabbis stood up after R. Huna's discourses  and shook out their garments the dust rose [so high] that it obscured the [light of] day, and people in Palestine  said, 'They have risen after the discourses of R. Huna the Babylonian' — When [the main body of] Rabbis departed from the schools of Rabbah and R. Joseph there remained four hundred Rabbis and they described themselves as orphans. When [the main body of] Rabbis departed from the school of Abaye (others say, From the school of R. Papa, while still others say, From the school of R. Ashi) there remained two hundred Rabbis, and these described themselves as orphans of the orphans. R. Isaac b. Radifa said in the name of R. Ammi: The inspectors of [animal] blemishes  in Jerusalem received their wages from the Temple funds.  Rab Judah said in the name of Samuel: The learned men who taught the priests the laws of ritual slaughter received their fees from the Temple funds.  R. Giddal said in the name of Rab: The learned men who taught the priests the rules of kemizah  received their fees from the Temple funds.  Rabbah b. Bar Hana said in the name of R. Johanan: Book readers  in Jerusalem received their fees from the Temple funds. R. Nahman said: Rab stated that the women who wove the [Temple] curtains received their wages from the Temple funds  but I maintain [that they received them] from the sums consecrated for Temple repairs, since the curtains were a substitute for builder's work. An objection was raised: The women who wove the [Temple] curtains, and the house of Garmo  [who were in charge] of the preparation of the shewbread,  and the house of Abtinas  [who were in charge] of the preparation of the incense,  received their wages from the Temple funds!  — There  [it may be replied] the reference is [to the curtains] of the gates;  for R. Zera related in the name of Rab: There were thirteen curtains in the second Temple, seven corresponding to the seven gates,  one for the entrance to the Hekal,  one for the entrance to the 'Ulam,  two  [at the entrance] to the Debir  and two [above them and] corresponding to them in the upper storey. Our Rabbis taught: The women who brought up their children for the [services of the red] heifer,  received their wages from the Temple funds. Abba Saul said: The notable  women of Jerusalem fed them and maintained them. R. Huna enquired of Rab: