A comparison of Moshe Rabbenu to Rabbi Yehudah HaNasi, and then eventually Rav Ashi. The question is what’s going on. The court begins deliberations with the lowest in the hierarchy, though elsewhere, the opposite was done. The Gemara posits that temporal leadership and Torah leadership was not found in the same person between Moshe and Rabbi Yehudah HaNasi, but the Gemara also pushes back with concrete examples, with biblical and talmudic examples. Plus, Rav Ashi, and his role as editor of the Talmud. Which gives us a timeline of Torah leadership through the generations. Also, the judgement from the lowliest of judges – weighing in first – in actual capital cases. The mishnah addresses the source for this order of opinions, with biblical sources, and philosophy about humanity’s role in the world.
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