And it happened with R. Elazar b. Shamua and R. Yochanan Hasandler, who were traveling in Netzivim near R. Yehudah b. Betheira to learn Torah from him. Arriving at Tziddon (in Phoenicia), they remembered Eretz Yisrael, whereupon they raised their eyes and wept and rent their garments and recited this verse: "Take heed and hearken to all of these things … and dwell in their land" — at which they said: Dwelling in Eretz Yisrael is over and against all of the mitzvoth in the Torah — at which they returned and came to their place.