ledge that the rabbies are a new order of men, and that the word rabbi was not heard of until less than a century before the destruction of the second temple. Thus the Baal Aruch says—
(
Hebrew characters)
"The first generations, which were very great, did not require
the titles of Rabban, or Rabbi, or Rav, wherewith to
honour the wise men of Babylon, or the wise men of the land
of Israel; for behold Hillel went, up from Babylon, but the
title of Rabbi is not added to his name. There were honourable
persons amongst the prophets, for it is said, 'Haggai the
prophet'—'Ezra did not go up from Babylon'—and at the
mention of their names the title of Rabbi is not added: neither
have we heard that this was begun until the princes Rabban
Gamaliel the elder, and Rabban Simon his son, who was killed
at the destruction of the second temple, and Rabban Johannan
ben Zakkai, who were all princes. Rabbi also began with
those who were promoted at the same time, Zadok and R.
Eliezer, the son of Jacob, and the thing spread from the disciples
of Rabban Johannan ben Zakkai onwards." (Aruch in
(Hebrew characters)) We need not wonder, then, that Moses knows nothing
of rabbies, for here is a plain confession, that the name was
never heard of until a few years before the last dispersion. It
may, however, be said, that the office itself existed, though
the name did not, and this is in fact asserted by Rambam,
when he says:—
(Hebrew characters)
"Moses our master promoted Joshua with his hands; for it is said, 'and he laid his hands upon him, and gave him a
