Question: How many stars must come out, and it is [Vadai] night?

Answer (R. Pinchas citing R. Aba bar Papa): If one star [is visible, it is] Vadai day; two stars, it is Safek night; three stars, it is Vadai night.

Question: Two stars, it is Safek night? The verses says [that they worked during the day, and they worked] until Tzeis ha'Kochavim. Is not the minimum [amount that is called] "stars" two?!

Answer: [The verse] does not count the first [star, for it is visible even while it is day].

On Erev Shabbos, if one saw one star and he did Melachah, he is exempt. [If he saw] two [stars and he did Melachah], he brings Asham Taluy (amidst Safek. If he saw) three, he brings a Chatas.

On Motza'ei Shabbos, if one saw one star and he did Melachah, he brings a Chatas; two, he brings Asham Taluy; three, he is exempt.

Question (R. Yosi bei R. Bun): If you will say that two stars is a Safek, if he saw two stars on Erev Shabbos, and they warned him, and he did Melachah, and he saw two stars on Motza'ei Shabbos and they warned him, and he did Melachah, no matter what you will say, [he should bring a Chatas]!

If the first ones (two stars on Erev Shabbos) are day, also the last ones (two stars on Motza'ei Shabbos) are day, and he is liable for [Melachah done when] the latter [were visible]! If the first ones are night, also the last ones are night, and he is liable for the former!

If he saw two stars on Erev Shabbos, and reaped k'Chetzi Grogeres (one must reap the volume of a full fig to be liable), and in the morning he reaped k'Chetzi Grogeres, and he saw two stars on Motza'ei Shabbos and reaped k'Chetzi Grogeres, no matter what you will say, [he should bring a Chatas]!

If the first [stars] are day, also the latter ones are day, and the morning [reaping] join with that of Motza'ei Shabbos, and he is liable for the latter;

If the latter are night, also the first ones are night, and the morning [reaping] joins with that of Shabbos night, and he is liable for the first!

Limitation: We discuss stars that are not normally seen during the day. However, stars that are normally seen during the day, we do not gauge [what is night] through them.

(R. Yosi bei R. Bun): [One may do Melachah on Motza'ei Shabbos after seeing three stars,] only if are seen three stars that resemble one star (they are close together).

(R. Yakov of Rumana citing R. Yudah bar Pazi): One star is Vadai day. Two, it is night.

Question: Does he hold that there is no time when it is Safek?!

Answer: He has a time of Safek - between [when the first] star [is seen, until the second] star.