Rabbi Neḥemya says: “The advantage of land is in every way.” Matters that appear as though they are beyond the scope of the Torah, like the addenda35This is a reference to tannaitic literature not included in the Mishna. of the study hall of Rabbi and the addenda of the study hall of Rabbi Natan, the laws of converts and slaves, they too were given to Moses from Sinai. And like the laws of ritual fringes, phylacteries, and mezuzot, they are included in the Torah, as it is written: “The Lord gave me the two tablets of stone inscribed with the finger of God, and on them were all the matters [kekhol hadevarim]” (Deuteronomy 9:10), and it is written: “All the mitzva [hamitzva] that I am commanding you…” (Deuteronomy 8:1), Kol, kekhol; devarim, hadevarim; mitzva, hamitzva36These words contain superfluous prefixes, as the verses could have said kol, devarim, and mitzva, but instead says kekhol, hadevarim, and hamitzva.
All these prefixes are amplifications that serve to include the types of Torah study detailed in the midrash. – [to teach that] Bible, Mishna, halakha, Talmud, addenda, aggadot, and even what a distinguished disciple is destined to say before his teacher, all these were given as a halakha to Moses from Sinai. “King” – this is a master of Talmud; “Subservient to a field” – this is the master of the Mishna, who hoes the halakha before him.37Just as one hoes in order to eventually reap the crops, one who masters the Mishna is then able to analyze the mishnayot and apply them as necessary.
Rabbi Yaakov bar Avuna said in the name of Rabbi Yosei: One who learned but did not teach, there is no greater vanity than this. The Rabbis say: Even things in the world that you consider to be superfluous, like flies, fleas, and gnats, they too are included in the creation of the world, as it is stated: “[The heavens and the earth] were completed, [with all their host]” (Genesis 2:1).