Fifth Generation of Amoraim

Rav Nachman bar Yitzchak became head in Pumbedita after the death of Rava in the year 4112, and his colleague was Rav Chisda [(this is strange, for he was not his colleague)]. And he lived many days after him, and reigned for 5 years, and died in 4117. And his colleagues were Rav Pappa and Rav Huna the son of Rav Yehoshua [(Tzemach David). And Yuchsin wrote in the order of Amoraim according to their times and in the letter of Rashbag that Rav Nachman bar Yitzchak died in 667, which is the year 4115.

And this requires examination, for it is found in Menachot (page 122, section 271) that Rav Ashi said "I said in my youth before Rav Nachman." And Tosafot wrote that the version should read "before Rav Chadna" (for according to Tosafot, the unspecified Rav Nachman is bar Yaakov, who was the teacher of Rava, see there), or the version should read "before Rav Nachman bar Yitzchak." Thus, Rav Ashi was great in the days of Rav Nachman bar Yitzchak, since he said "I said in my youth before him," and according to Rashi in Ketubot (22b), Rav Ashi was head of the academy in Mata Mechasya in the days of Rav Nachman bar Yitzchak, and in Kiddushin (72b) "on the day Rava died, Rav Ashi was born." Thus, Rav Ashi was 5 years old when Rav Nachman bar Yitzchak died, so how did Rashi write that Rav Ashi was head of the academy in the days of Rav Nachman bar Yitzchak? And according to me, it is not clarified in these matters].

Rava died in the year 4112 [(see above year 4099)] and Rav Ashi was born.

Rav Pappa became head of the academy in Nerash, a city near Sura, and the academies split for the second time, and this was around the year 4112. [And in Sefer HaKeritot it writes: and after him Rav Pappa in the year 676 (which is the year 4125).] And according to the Raavad, he reigned for 19 years. [And so it says in Yuchsin in the order of Amoraim according to their times and in the letter of Rashbag.] And he died in the year 4132 [(Tzemach David, and so it says in Yuchsin in the order of Amoraim according to their times). And Rashbag wrote in Yuchsin that he reigned for 12 years and died in 687 (i.e., according to the Seleucid era), which is 4135].

And after the death of Rav Nachman, he also reigned in Pumbedita, and his colleagues were Rav Aina Saba and Rav Yehuda [(Shir HaShirim)].