895. Rabbi Yosi said, It is all nice, but the Torah that was given before the children of Yisrael and taught to them is more IMPORTANT than everything. Come and see, There is no praise for a person in this world and in the World to Come like the praise of Torah, as it is written of it: "By me kings reign" (Mishlei 8:15).

896. We have learned that when Rav Huna went up TO THE HOLY LAND, he found the Rabbis occupied with this passage that says, "And I will punish Bel in Babylon, and I will take out of his mouth which he has swallowed up; and the nations shall not flow together any more to him" (Yirmeyah 51:44). Rav Huna STOOD BUT they didn't notice him, because they did not recognize him at first and because he was small. He came to the study hall and he heard the sages saying that this verse THAT WAS JUST MENTIONED must be examined to see whether the name of the idol and object of fear of Nebuchadnezzar was Bel. AND THEREFORE HE SAID, "AND I WILL PUNISH BEL," yet it is written, "But at last Daniel came in before me, whose name is Beltshatzar, according to the name of my Elohim" (Daniel 4:5). SO WE SEE THAT HIS IDOL'S NAME WAS BELTSHATZAR. Also, what does this mean, "And I will take out of his mouth which he has swallowed up?"

897. Rav Huna stood up between the foundation of the pillars and said, If I were in my own place, I would explain this verse. They paid him no attention. He stood up and repeated it a second time. Rabbi Yudai, the son of Rav, came over and sat him down in front of him. He said to him, Speak my son, speak, because concerning the words of Torah is written, "She cries in the chief place of concourse... " (Mishlei 1:21).

898. He opened the discussion saying, We have learned that in the early days, before Jacob came, a person was peacefully in his home, WITHOUT ANY SICKNESS - when his time came TO DIE, he died without any sickness. When Jacob came, he asked of the Holy One, blessed be He, Master of the Universe, if it is favorable before You, let a person fall into illness for two or three days. Then he should be gathered unto his people, SO THAT HE WOULD BE ABLE to arrange for his family and repent his sins. THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE, told him, 'It shall be so, and you will be an example for the world,' MEANING THAT IT WILL START WITH YOU. Come and see what is written concerning him, "And it came to pass after these things, that one told Joseph, Behold your father is sick (Heb. choleh)" (Beresheet 48:1). The word choleh is spelled WITHOUT A VAV - WHICH SHOWS THAT IT WAS NEW, and that no person had this before.