Rabbi Oshaia asked, " What is this that is written, (Zech. xi. 7), (I took unto me two staves; the one I called Amiable and the other Destroyer? The staff called Amiable represents the disciples of the wise in the land of Israel, who were friendly one toward another in their debates about the law. The staff called Destroyer represents the disciples of the wise of Babylon, who in the like debates were fierce tempered and not friendly toward one another. What is the meaning of Babel or Babylon? Rabbi Yochanan says it means "confused in the Bible, confused in the Mishna, and confused in the Talmud." " He hath set me in dark places, as they that be dead of oldw (Lam. iii. 6).