Raba further said: If there are two teachers of whom one gets on fast but with mistakes and the other slowly but without mistakes, we appoint the one who gets on fast and makes mistakes, since the mistakes correct themselves in time.

R. Dimi from Nehardea on the other hand said that we appoint the one who goes slowly but makes no mistakes, for once a mistake is implanted it cannot be eradicated.

This can be shown from the Scripture. It is written, "For Yoav and all Israel remained there until he had cut off every male in Edom. (1 Kings 11:16)"

When [Yoav] came before David, the latter [David] said to him: "Why have you acted thus [i.e. killed only the males]?" He [Yoav] replied: "Because it is written, ‘Thou shalt blot out the males [zakhar] of Amalek. (Deut 25:19)'"

Said David: "But we read, ‘[You shall blot out] the remembrance [zekher] of Amalek.'" He [Yoav] replied: "I was taught to read ‘zakhar.'"

He [Yoav] then went to his teacher and asked: "How didst thou teach me to read?" He replied: "Zekher." Thereupon he [Yoav] drew his sword and threatened to kill him [his teacher]. "Why do you do this?" asked the teacher. He [Yoav] replied: "Because it is written, ‘Cursed be he that does the work of the Lord negligently. (Jeremiah 48:20)'" He [Yoav's teacher] said to him: "Be satisfied that I am cursed." To which Yoav rejoined: "[It also says]. ‘Cursed be he that keeps back his sword from blood. (Jeremiah 48:20)'"

According to one report he killed him; according to another, he did not kill him.

Questions for thought:

1. Do you agree with Raba or Dimi? Whose argument is better, in your opinion?
2. What do you make of the fact that the Talmud reports contradictory opinions about whether Yoav killed his teacher?
3. What are the editors of this text trying to teach regarding the authority of sacred texts in impacting our decisions on matters of life and death?
4. What are the editors of this text trying to teach about the role teachers play in society?
5. Did the teacher lie intentionally about what he had taught Yoav? Or is Yoav's memory wrong and the teacher's implicit admission of guilt cannot be taken seriously under threat of violence?
6. What tends to be the most important considerations we take into account in Jewish education today regarding the hiring of teachers?
7. Translation is, of course, partly interpretation. This translation is based on the Soncino Talmud. Can you propose alternative translations for any words or sections?
8. Think about this text in the context of the debates over whether Wikipedia is a good thing or a bad thing.