High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Eleazar ben Arach was one of the tannaim of the second generation (1st century CE). Being first among the disciples of Yochanan ben Zakai (Avot ii. 8; Avot of Rabbi Natan xiv. 3), he delighted his master with his wisdom and penetration, so that the most extravagant encomiums were lavished upon him. It was said, "If all the sages of Israel were placed in one scale, and Eleazar ben Arach in the other, he would outweigh them all" (Avot l. c.; Avot of Rabbi Natan xiv. 4), and Yochanan described him as a "gushing stream" or "ever-flowing spring" (ibid.).