Pt1 Tremendously Loud Sounds: Gabini's Cries, the Sun's Orbit, Rome's Crowds, and More (Yoma 20b-21a)
This is the first part of a two-part series. The outline follows.
Outline
Anecdote of R’ Sheila and Rav
Gabini the Crier's voice was heard from far away
King Agrippa heard Gabini the Crier's voice from far away
Other Tremendously Loud Sounds: the sun moving; Rome's bustle
Additional Extremely Loud Sounds: the sun's sphere; Rome's bustle; the soul leaving the body; childbirth; the angel Ridya
The Passage
Anecdote of R’ Sheila and Rav
Rav visited a place where R' Sheila was the prominent local Torah scholar, but Rav was not yet known there. Without a disseminator (אמורא - amora) for R' Sheila's lecture, Rav volunteered for the role. (The disseminator/amora acted as a kind of human loudspeaker.)
During the lecture, R' Sheila mentioned "keriat hagever," which Rav interpreted as "the call of the man." R' Sheila suggested it meant "the call of the rooster," prompting Rav to assert, using a folk saying, that R' Sheila lacked the sophistication to appreciate it. Rav cited his experience with R' Ḥiyya, who did not challenge his interpretation.
Realizing Rav's identity, R' Sheila expressed that it was beneath Rav's dignity to serve as his disseminator. Rav responded with another folk saying (אמרי אינשי - literally: “people say”), implying that one should complete any task they undertake, even the less pleasing aspects. Alternatively, Rav argued that it was inappropriate for a lesser person to replace him in a role he had taken, as it would show disrespect for the Torah.
רב איקלע לאתריה דרבי שילא.
לא הוה אמורא למיקם עליה דרבי שילא,
קם רב עליה,
וקא מפרש: מאי ״קריאת הגבר״ — קרא גברא.
אמר ליה רבי שילא, ולימא מר: ״קרא תרנגולא״?
אמר ליה: ״אבוב לחרי — זמר, לגרדאי — לא מקבלוה מיניה״.
כי הוה קאימנא עליה דרבי חייא
ומפרישנא: מאי ״קריאת הגבר״ — קרא גברא,
ולא אמר לי ולא מידי.
ואת אמרת לי, אימא: ״קרא תרנגולא״.
אמר ליה: מר ניהו רב?! נינח מר.
אמר ליה, אמרי אינשי: ״איתגרת ליה, פוץ עמריה״.
איכא דאמרי, הכי אמר ליה: ״מעלין בקדש, ולא מורידין״.
Rav happened to come to the place where R' Sheila was the most prominent local Torah scholar and Rav was not yet known.
There was no disseminator to stand before R' Sheila to disseminate his lecture to the public.
Rav stood before him to disseminate the lecture, in the course of which R' Sheila mentioned keriat hagever.
Rav interpreted the concept for the audience and said: What is the meaning of keriat hagever? It means the call of the man.
R' Sheila said to him: And let the Master say it is the call of the rooster.
Rav said to him, quoting a folk saying: A flute played for noblemen is music, but when played for weavers, they receive no pleasure from it, due to their lack of sophistication. Similarly, the interpretation that I disseminated was accepted by Torah scholars greater than you. You, who lack their sophistication, cannot appreciate it.
When I stood before R' Ḥiyya
and interpreted: What is the meaning of keriat hagever? It means the call of the man,
he did not say anything to me in response,
and you, R' Sheila, say to me: Say it is the call of the rooster.
As soon as R' Sheila heard that, he knew at once who had been disseminating his lecture. He said to him: Is the Master Rav? Let the Master rest and cease disseminating my lecture, as it is beneath your dignity to serve as my assistant.
Rav said to him: People say this aphorism: If you hired yourself to him, comb his wool. Once one agrees to perform a task, he should bear its less pleasing aspects and complete the job.
Some say, this is what Rav said to him: One elevates to a higher level in matters of sanctity and one does not downgrade. Since the task of interpreting was undertaken by a man of my stature, it is not fitting that a lesser man will replace me. That would be a display of contempt for the Torah.
Gabini the Crier's voice was heard from far away
The Talmud supports both interpretations with baraitot (tannaitic teachings). Rav's interpretation aligns with a baraita describing Gabini the Crier1 in the Temple, whose powerful voice called priests, Levites, and Israelites to their duties and was heard 3 parsangs away.
תניא כותיה דרב, תניא כותיה דרבי שילא.
תניא כותיה דרב:
גביני כרוז מהו אומר?
״עמדו
כהנים לעבודתכם,
ולוים לדוכנכם,
וישראל למעמדכם״.
והיה קולו נשמע בשלש פרסאות.
The Gemara comments: A baraita was taught in accordance with the opinion of Rav, and a baraita was taught in accordance with the opinion of R' Sheila.
The Gemara elaborates: A baraita was taught in accordance with the opinion of Rav:
What did Gevini the Crier, who was an appointee in the Temple, say in his proclamation?
Arise,
priests, to your service,
and Levites to your platform,
and Israelites to your non-priestly watch.
And the Gemara relates: His voice was so strong that it could be heard at a distance of three parasangs, slightly more than eight miles.