1. Three times in the year the priests elevate their hands to bless the people, four times a day—in the morning prayer, in the following prayer, in the evening prayer, and at the locking of the gates. These times are the fast days, on the fasts of the deputies, and on the day of atonement. 2. These are the Delegates, according as is said, “Command the children of Israel, and say unto them, My offering and my bread for my sacrifices made by fire.”(340) And how is it possible, that the offering of a man should be sacrificed, and he does not stand by it? Therefore, the former prophets decreed four-and-twenty Watches. For every Watch there were Delegates in Jerusalem of priests, Levites, and Israelites. When the time approached (for them) to go up, the priests and Levites went up to Jerusalem, and the Israelites, who belonged to the Watch, gathered in their cities and read in the history of Genesis. 3. And the Delegates used to fast four days in the week, from the second day till the fifth. But they did not fast on the eve of the Sabbath, for honor to the Sabbath. Nor on the first day, that they should not go forth from repose and enjoyment, to toil, and fasting, and death. On the first day they read in Genesis,(341) “and let there be a firmament.” On the second, “let there be a firmament and let the waters be gathered together.” On the third day, “let the waters be gathered together, and let there be lights.” On the fourth, “let there be lights, and let the waters bring forth abundantly.” On the fifth, “let the waters bring forth abundantly,” and “let the earth bring forth.” On the sixth, “let the earth bring forth,” and “the heavens were finished.” Two men read a large portion, but a small portion was read by one. At morning prayer, at the following prayer, at the evening prayer, they went in and read orally (by heart), as they read the “Hear,”(342) etc. On the eve of the Sabbath they did not go in to evening prayer for honor to the Sabbath. 4. Every day when there is praise, the Delegates are not at morning prayer. When there is the additional offering at the following prayer, there is not the closing prayer at the locking up of the gates. “When there is the offering of the wood, there is not the evening prayer.” The words of Rabbi Akiba. The son of Azai said to him, R. Joshua thus taught it: “when there was an additional offering, the Delegates did not come to evening prayer; when there was the offering of the wood, they did not come to prayer at the locking up of the gates.” R. Akiba changed his opinion, and taught as the son of Azai.