That this haughty title of Rabbi was not in use before the times of Hillel, sufficiently appears from thence, that the Doctors before that were called by their plain names, and knew nothing of this title. Antigonus Socheus, Shemaiah and Abtalion, Gebihah ben Pesisa, Cabba Savua, Admon and Hanan, Hillel and Shammai, and many others, whose names we meet with in the Jewish Story. Yet you shall find these that were more ancient sometimes officiously honoured by the writers of their Nation with this title, which they themselves were strangers to. They feign that King Jehoshaphat thus called the learned men, When he saw, say they, a Disciple of the wise men, he rose up out of his Throne and embraced him, and kissed him, and called him 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 O Father, Father, Rabbi, Rabbi, Lord, Lord. And Joshua ben Perachia is called Rabbi Joshua. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 are here rendred Rabbi in the eighth verse: Father in the ninth: and Master in the tenth. We do not more nicely examine the precise time when this title began; be sure it did not commence before the schism arose between the Schools of Shammai and Hillel: and from that schism per∣haps it had its beginning.
II. It was customary, and they loved it, to be saluted with this honourable title, not∣withstanding the dissembled axiom among them 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Love the work, but hate the title .
•• Disciples were thus taught to salute their Masters: R. Eliezer saith 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 He that prayeth behind the back of his Master, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 And he that salutes his Master, or returns a salute to his Master, and he that makes himself a separa∣tist from the School of his Master, and he that teaches any thing which he hath not heard from his Master, he provokes the Divine Majesty to depart from Israel. The Glossers on these words, He that salutes or returns a salute to his Master, thus comment, He that salutes his Master in the same form of words that he salutes other men, and doth not say to him 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Gd save you Rabbi . It is reported also that the Council Excommunicated certain persons four and twenty times 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 for the honour of Master; that is, for not ha∣ving given due honour to the Rabbins. 2. The Masters saluted one another so.
R. Akibah said to B. Eleazar, Rabbi, Rabbi: R. Eleazar ben Simeon of Magdal▪ Ge∣dor came from the house of his Master sitting upon an Ass: He went forward along the bank of the river rejoycing greatly, and being very much pleas'd with himself, because he had learned so much of the Law. There meets him a very deformed man, and said 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 save you, Rabbi: He did not salute him again, but on the contrary said thus, Raka, How deformed is that man, perhaps all your Townsmen are as deformed as you. He answered, I know nothing of that, but go you to the workman that made me, and tell him, How deformed is this vessel which thou hast made? &c. And a little after, When that (deformed man) was come to his own Town, his fellow citizens came out to meet him, and said, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 save you O Rabbi, Rabbi, Master, Master. (R. Eliezer) saith to them, To whom do you say Rabbi, Rabbi? They answer, To him that followeth thee. He replied, If this be a Rabbi, let there not be many such in Israel.