Bava Batra 91B

מנהיגו, ואוי לה לספינה שאבד קברניטה.

its leader, and woe to the ship that has lost its captain.

״והמתנשא לכל לראש״⁠ – אמר רב חנן בר רבא אמר רב: אפילו ריש גרגותא, משמיא מוקמי ליה.

With regard to leaders, the Talmud adds that it is stated in praise of God: “And You are exalted as head above all” (I Chronicles 29:11). Rav Ḥanan bar Rava says that Rav says: Even one with the most insignificant position of authority, e.g., an appointee over irrigation, is appointed by Heaven.

אמר רב חייא בר אבין אמר רבי יהושע בן קרחה: חס ושלום, שאפילו מצאו סובין ⁠– לא יצאו. ואלא מפני מה נענשו? שהיה להן לבקש רחמים על דורם, ולא בקשו ⁠– שנאמר: ״בזעקך יצילך קבוציך״.

The Talmud returns to its discussion of the punishment of Elimelech and his sons, which R' Shimon ben Yoḥai says they received because they left Eretz Yisrael. Rav Ḥiyya bar Avin says that R' Yehoshua ben Korḥa says: Heaven forfend that they sinned in this manner, as if Elimelech and his sons had found even bran they would not have left Eretz Yisrael. But rather, for what reason were they punished? They were punished because they should have requested mercy of God for their generation, and they did not request this, as it is stated: “When you cry, let those you have gathered deliver you” (Isaiah 57:13).

אמר רבה בר בר חנה אמר רבי יוחנן: לא שנו אלא מעות בזול, ופירות ביוקר; אבל מעות ביוקר ⁠– אפילו עמדו ארבע סאין בסלע, יוצאין.

Rabba bar bar Ḥana says that R' Yoḥanan says: They taught that it is prohibited to leave Eretz Yisrael only if money is cheap, i.e., not excessively difficult to obtain, and produce is expensive, similar to the case in the baraita where two se’a of wheat are sold for a sela. But when money is expensive, i.e., it is difficult to earn money for sustenance, even if the price of 4 se’a of grain stood at a sela, one may leave Eretz Yisrael in order to survive.