The Order of Teaching From Moses to All Israel

Rabbi Akiva says: from where do we learn that a person is obligated to teach his student until he learns it? As it is said, "and teach it to the children of Israel, put it in their mouths" (Deuteronomy 31:19). And from where that he is obligated to show him the reasoning? As it is said, "and these are the ordinances that you shall set before them" (Exodus 21:1). The Rabbis taught: what was the order of teaching? Moses learned from the mouth of the Almighty. Aaron entered, and Moses taught him his lesson. Aaron withdrew and sat to the left of Moses. His sons entered, and Moses taught them their lesson. His sons withdrew, Elazar to the right of Moses and Itamar to the left of Aaron. Rabbi Yehudah says: Aaron always returns to the right of Moses. The elders entered, and Moses taught them their lesson; the elders withdrew. All Israel entered, and Moses taught them their lesson. It turned out that Aaron had heard it four times, his sons three, the elders two, and the people one. Moses withdrew, and Aaron taught them their lesson. Aaron withdrew, and his sons taught them their lesson. His sons withdrew, and the elders taught them their lesson. It turned out that all had it four times. From here Rabbi Elazar ben Azaryah said: a person is obligated to teach his students four times. And by inference from minor to major: if these, who learned from the mouth of Moses and Moses from the mouth of the Almighty, needed this, the rest of all the people, all the more so. And let them all learn from Moses [directly]? In order to apportion honor to Aaron, and honor to his sons, and honor to the elders. And let Aaron enter and learn from Moses, and his sons enter and learn from Aaron, and the elders enter and learn from his sons, and then let them all go and teach all Israel? Since Moses had learned from the mouth of the Almighty, the matter was thereby strengthened.