יד רב הונא בר מנוח ורב שמואל בר אידי ורב חייא מווסתניא הוו שכיחי קמיה דרבא כי נח נפשיה דרבא אתו לקמיה דרב פפא כל אימת דהוה אמר להו שמעתא ולא הוה מסתברא להו הוו מרמזי אהדדי חלש דעתיה
14 With reference to which R'Abahu said: Do not read, 'they saw' [wayir-u] but 'they were seen' [wayyero-u].<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' With the disappearance of the Pillar of Cloud Israel became visible and exposed to the enemy.');"><sup>16</sup></span> This is also in accordance with the view of Resh Lakish who said: [The word] ki may be used in four different senses, namely, 'if' 'perhaps'.' but', 'because'.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' 'Ki' here on the reading of R. Abbahu is rendered 'because'.');"><sup>17</sup></span> The two [the Well and the Cloud] returned because of the merit of Moses, but when Moses died all of them disappeared, as it is said, And I cut off the three shepherds in one month.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Zech. Xl, 8.');"><sup>18</sup></span> Did they then all [three] die in one month? Did not Miriam die in Nisan, Aaron in Ab and Moses in Adar? This therefore is meant to teach you that the three good gifts which were given because of their merit were nullified and they all disappeared in one month. Thus we find that sustenance<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' 1.e., the manna.');"><sup>19</sup></span> may be granted for the sake of one individual! - The case of Moses is exceptional; as he prayed on behalf of the many, he himself is regarded as a multitude. R'Hunah B'Manoah and R'Samuel B'Idi and R'Hiyya of Wastanya<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' [Astunia, near Pumbeditha, v. Obermeyer, p. 229.]');"><sup>20</sup></span> were wont to attend the discourses of Raba. When Raba died they came to those of R'Papa and whenever he expounded to them a law which did not appeal to them they winked at one another, and thus hurt him greatly.