290 The Talmud states that when the sun and moon were first created they were of equal size. The moon became jealous of the sun, and she was reduced in bulk. The moon then appealed to God, and she was consoled by the promise that Jacob, Samuel, and David were to be likewise small. As, however, some injustice seemed to have been committed, God ordained “a sin-offering” on every new moon, because the moon had become less than the sun! 291 The Sanhedrin treated gamblers and usurers as thieves. 292 Those who bred pigeons, to bet on their quickness of flight, or to entice their neighbors’ pigeons to their dovecotes. 293 Lev. xxiii. 4. 294 Literally, Bithosin, the followers of Biothos, who, with Zadok, the founder of the Sadducees, was a scholar of Antigonus of Socho. 295 Babylon. 296 So called in the Mishna. It means “the place fenced in.” The Gemara reads, Beth Yazak, “the place of chains.” _ 297 I.e._, the Sabbath, when they could only go four cubits. 298 To carry money on the day of atonement was unlawful, but according to R. Joshua’s reckoning it would have been a day too late. 299 Lev. xxiii. 4. 300 Exod. xxiv. 9. 301 Not to remind God of the sin of the golden calf. 302 Deut. xxxiii. 17. 303 Josh. vi. 5. 304 Num. x. 305 From the obligation of hearing or sounding. 306 Exod. xvii. 11. 307 Num. xxi. 8. 308 There is a supposed hiatus in the Mishna text to the following effect: “In Jerusalem they sounded through the whole city during the session of the Sanhedrin (_i.e._, till noon); but in Jamnia they did not sound in the city, but only before the tribunal of justice. And again,” etc. _ 309 I.e._, of the sheaf of the first-fruits. Lev. xxiii. 10. 310 The titles or the headings of the blessings which were used in the services of the Temple and of the synagogues out of Jerusalem. 311 Three were read from the Law, three from the Psalms, and three from the Prophets—such passages as Exod. xv. 18, Ps. xxiv., Ezek. xx. 33, Zech. xiv. 9, etc. _ 312 I.e._, they would not read such passages as Ps. lxxviii. 39. _ 313 I.e._, to improve its tone. 314 To clear its tone. _ 315 I.e._, the Chazan that prays Musaph. 316 Nisan corresponded partly to March and April. 317 Joel ii. 23. 318 Marchesvan corresponded partly to October and November. 319 Part of November and part of December. 320 The fast-days of strict Pharisees were Mondays and Thursdays, because on a Thursday Moses went up to Mount Sinai, and returned on a Monday with the second Tables of the Law. 321 1 Sam. xii. 17. 322 Jonah iii. 10. 323 Joel ii. 13. 324 Prayers for the New Year. 325 Prayers for the New Year. 326 Ps. cxx. 1. 327 Ps. cxxi. 1. 328 Ps. cxxx. 329 Ps. cii. 330 1 Kings viii. 37. 331 Jer. xiv. 1.