RABBINIC TRAINING
In bible days, there was intense training in the truths of the Torah (the law), especially for boys.
Age 4/5-10 Bet Seffer (House of the Book) there was general instruction in Torah (girls education finished here)
Age 10-12 Bet Talmood (House of Learning). This involved memorisation of the entire Torah by memory (for most, education finished here).
Age 12-15 Bet Ha Midrash (House of Study). This was only available to the best young students, the cream of the crop. These ‘academies’ were conducted by teachers of Law. Here students began the process of studying other parts of the Hebrew Bible, especially the Prophets as well as, more significantly, beginning to apply what they were learning to specific life situations.
Age 15 plus - The Talmidim - the very top students would spend three years and ‘become like their rabbi’ by learning and applying the wisdom of Torah and oral tradition to daily situations.
To join a rabbi’s learning group, a person had to approach the rabbi, who would then take time to consider the prospective talmid’s ability and potential. He would ‘question the student . . . about Torah, about tradition, about other rabbis . . . about prophets and sages and the oral law . . . about interpretation and legislation . . . about words and phrases and passages.’ Though the majority of the applicants were turned away, if the rabbi believed that this student had potential, he would issue the prized invitation, ‘come, follow me.’
Age 18: After spending the next years applying their learning through working within their chosen vocation, a talmid might be ready to become a rabbi and accept disciples of their own.
Jesus made talmidim of those who have been rejected because they didn’t measure up - the socially excluded, the ordinary and the mediocre - those who probably failed to get beyond the first stage of the formal education process.