Taanit 8A

שתלמודו קשה עליו כברזל ⁠— בשביל משנתו שאינה סדורה עליו, שנאמר: ״והוא לא פנים קלקל״.

whose studies are hard as iron for him, i.e., difficult to understand, this is due to his lack of familiarity with the Mishnah, which is not organized for him. If the Mishnah is unclear, any further study of Talmud is rendered all the more difficult, as it is stated: “And does not whet [kilkal] the edge [panim]” (Ecclesiastes 10:10). As panim can also mean surface, this indicates that the surface, i.e., the basic statements of the Mishnah, is corrupted. As stated previously, kilkal can also mean corrupted.

מאי תקנתיה ⁠— ירבה בישיבה, שנאמר: ״וחילים יגבר ויתרון הכשיר חכמה״. כל שכן אם משנתו סדורה לו מעיקרא.

What is his remedy? He must increase the time he sits and studies, as it is stated: “Then must he increase his strength” (Ecclesiastes 10:10). The last part of the verse: “But wisdom is profitable to direct,” means that all the more so, if his study of the Mishnah is organized for him from the beginning, he will avoid this trouble.

כי הא דריש לקיש הוה מסדר מתניתיה ארבעין זמנין, כנגד ארבעים יום שניתנה תורה, ועייל לקמיה דרבי יוחנן. רב אדא בר אהבה מסדר מתניתיה עשרין וארבע זמנין, כנגד תורה נביאים וכתובים, ועייל לקמיה דרבא.

That is like this practice of Reish Lakish, who would review his studies 40 times, corresponding to the 40 days in which the Torah was given to Moses at Sinai, and only afterward would he go before R' Yoḥanan to study from his teacher. Similarly, Rav Adda bar Ahava would review his learning 24 times, corresponding to the 24 books in the Torah, Prophets, and Writings, i.e., the Bible, and only afterward go before Rava to study with him.

רבא אמר: אם ראית תלמיד שתלמודו קשה עליו כברזל ⁠— בשביל רבו שאינו מסביר לו פנים, שנאמר: ״והוא לא פנים קלקל״.

With regard to the aforementioned verse from Ecclesiastes, Rava said: If you see a student whose studies are as difficult for him as iron, this is due to his teacher, who does not show him a friendly countenance, but is overly strict with him. This practice inhibits the student’s learning, as it is stated: “And it has not whetted the surface [panim]” (Ecclesiastes 10:10). As explained previously, panim can also mean countenance.