The Unbroken Academy from the Patriarchs to Eliezer

Rabbi Hama bar Hanina said: from the days of our fathers, a house of study never ceased among them. They had a house of study with them in Egypt, as it is said, "go and gather the elders of Israel" (Exodus 3:16). In the wilderness they had a house of study with them, as it is said, "gather to Me seventy men from the elders of Israel" (Numbers 11:16). Abraham was an elder who sat in a house of study, as it is said, "and Abraham was old." Isaac our father was an elder who sat in a house of study, as it is said, "and it came to pass when Isaac was old" (Genesis 27:1). Jacob our father was an elder who sat in a house of study, as it is said, "and the eyes of Israel were heavy from age" (Genesis 48:10). Eliezer the servant of Abraham was an elder who sat in a house of study, as it is said, "and Abraham said to his servant, the elder of his house" (Genesis 24:2). What is "who ruled over all that he had"? Who ruled over [mastered] the Torah of his master. "He is Damascus Eliezer" — for he drew [doleh] and gave others to drink [mashkeh] the Torah of his master. "And Abraham was old" — this is one of seven wonders [as written in hint 77].