Талмуд к Сота 9:16

³¹Gen. rabba 63(4), 92(2), Ex. rabba 22(3), Midrash Psalms 5(11). Zavdai ben Levai, and Rebbi Yose bar Petrus, and Rebbi Joshua ben Levi said three verses when they expired. One of them said, for this every pious one should pray to You³²Ps. 32:6. etc. And one said, all who rely on You will enjoy³³Ps. 5:12. etc. And one said, how great is Your bounty which You did hide for those who fear You³⁴Ps. 31:20. etc.

If they intended to appoint Elders, from where do they appoint? From Tiberias or from the South³²⁴The main Academy was at Tiberias in Galilee. There were minor centers of learning in the South, at Lydda and at Kefar Darom, in the plain which in Second Temple times was part of Judea. The question was which center of learning should be the first to propose candidates for ordination by the Patriarch.? Rebbi Simon said, Jehudah shall go first³²⁵Jud. 1:2. R. Simon came from the South.. Rebbi Mana said to him, this refers to war. But for ordination, those who see the face of the king, sitting first in government³²⁶Esther 1:14. The preeminent rabbis at this time were in Tiberias..