Commentary for Avodah Zarah 38:4
אמר רבי אבא אמר רב הונא אמר רב מאי דכתיב (משלי ז, כו) כי רבים חללים הפילה זה תלמיד שלא הגיע להוראה ומורה ועצומים כל הרוגיה זה תלמיד שהגיע להוראה ואינו מורה
Abba said in the name of R. Huna, in the name of Rav: What is meant by what is written, “For she has cast down many wounded” (Proverbs 7:26). This refers to the student who has not yet reached the age of instruction and yet issues an instruction; “Mighty are all those that she has slain:” this refers to the student who has reached the age of instruction but does not yet issue instruction.
Daf Shevui to Avodah Zarah
Generally, a student should not begin to issue legal instruction until they have reached the ripe old age of 40. Rava was an exception because there was no one older than him. In such a situation, he had no choice but to act as a master of instruction. I’ll add in here a personal note. I began to teach Talmud at the age of 27. There was no doubt that I was too young, but there was no one else willing to teach, so I took the job.
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