(R. Chiya citing R. Yochanan): [If one must pray] Tefilas Minchah and Tefilas Musaf - Tefilas Minchah has precedence.

Assumption: This is when he does not have time in the day to pray both of them, but if there is time in the day for both of them, Tefilas Musaf has precedence.

Rejection (R. Ze'ira citing R. Yochanan): Even if there is time in the day to pray both of them, Tefilas Minchah has precedence. Also R. Nasan bar Tuviyah citing R. Yochanan said that even if there is time in the day to pray both of them, Tefilas Minchah has precedence.

Question (Beraisa): If one prayed Tefilas Minchah before Tefilas Musaf, he was Yotzei.

Inference: This is b'Di'eved, but l'Chatchilah, one may not do so!

Answer: He answers that [the Beraisa] is when the [l'Chatchilah] time for Tefilah (i.e. Minchah Ketanah) did not arrive. (Then, l'Chatchilah he should pray Musaf first.)

This is like R. Yehoshua ben Levi commanded his Talmidim - if you will go to a big feast, and six hours of the day came before you went to the feast, pray Minchah before you go to the feast. (This shows that one can be Yotzei Minchah before Minchah Ketanah.)

When is Plag ha'Minchah? It is 11 hours, less a quarter hour.

(Mishnah): The [afternoon] Tamid was slaughtered at eight and a half [hours of the day], and [totally] offered at nine and a half. On Erev Pesach it is slaughtered at seven and a half, and offered at eight and a half, whether it is a weekday or Shabbos.

Question (R. Yirmeyah): Here you make the time for Minchah [the last] two and a half hours [of the day, for you say that Plag (half the time for) ha'Minchah is the last hour and a quarter of the day], and there you make the time for Minchah [the last] three and a half hours [for you say that the Tamid was slaughtered at eight and a half hours]!

Answer (R. Yosi): Tefilas Minchah is not equated to the afternoon Tamid, rather, to the Ketores;

What is the reason? "Tikon Tefilasi Ketores Lefanecha Mas'as Kapai Minchas Arev."

Deduct one hour for engagement [in offering the Tamid, and after it Ketores is offered at nine and a half hours], and you make Minchah [the last] two and a half hours.

R. Yosi ben Chanina used to pray with the redness of the sun (Shacharis at sunrise, and Minchah close to sunset), so the fear of Heaven would be on him the entire day.

R. Yosi ben Chanina: May my portion be with those who pray with the redness of the sun!

What is the source? "Al Zos Yispalel Kol Chasid Elecha l'Es Metzo." What is l'Es Metzo? It is the time of Mitzuy (completion) of the day. (R. SHLOMO SIRILIYO)

The brother of Rav Ada's mother guarded Rav's cloak (that he wore during Tefilah. Rav) told him, when you see the sun at the top of the date trees, give to me my cloak, so I will pray [Tefilas] Minchah.

When the sun is at the top of the date trees there (in Bavel), there is still much time left in the day. (We infer that Rav does not hold that one should pray at the end of the day - ZAHAV HA'ARETZ.)

Note: It seems that 'the end of the day' is Tzeis ha'Kochavim, which depends on how many degrees the sun is below the 'sea horizon', i.e. what the horizon would be if the land were at sea level. In Eretz Yisrael, which is elevated, the sun is still visible, e.g. at the top of the date trees, when it is at the 'sea horizon', so night comes soon after this. In Bavel, which is sunken, when the sun is at the top of the date trees, it is far above the 'sea horizon', so this is a long time before night. (PF)

(R. Yochanan): "Ha'Omer la'Tzulah Charavi" - this is Bavel, which is the bottom of the world.

(R. Yochanan): Why is [Bavli] called Tzulah? All those who died in the flood Tzalelu (sunk) to there - "Gam Bavel Linpol Chalalei Yisrael Gam l'Bavel Naflu Chalalei Chol ha'Aretz."

It says "va'Yimtze'u Vik'ah b'Eretz Shin'ar va'Yeshvu Sham" - Reish Lakish said, why is it called Shin'ar? To there Nin'aru (were stirred) all those who died in the flood.

Alternatively, [it is called] Shin'ar, for there they die b'Tashnuk (this is like the Targum of [Tzarah] v'Tzukah, i.e. amidst great affliction), without a lamp (they have only sesame oil, which does not burn as nicely as olive oil) and without a bathhouse (the Romans built bathhouses in cities; the Persians did not - SHA'AREI TORAS ERETZ YISRAEL).

Alternatively, Shin'ar, for they are Menu'arim (shaken out, i.e. empty) from Mitzvos, without Terumah and without Ma'aser.

Alternatively, Shin'ar, for Sareha (its nobles; MAHARA FULDA - its Chachamim) die Ne'arim (when they are youths).

Alternatively, Shin'ar, for they established a great Sonei (hater) of ha'Kadosh Baruch Hu. Who is this? It is Nebuchadnetzar the Rasha.

Question: [Rav prayed Minchah when the sun was at the top of the date trees in Bavel, when much time remained in the day May we infer that] Rav holds like R. Yehudah [that the latest time is Plag ha'Minchah]?

Answer: [No; he wanted to fulfill both opinions. He reasoned,] if I do like Rabanan (pray after Plag ha'Minchah), R. Yehudah does not agree (that I was Yotzei). If I do like R. Yehudah (pray before Plag ha'Minchah), even Rabanan agree. (We explained this like ZAHAV HA'ARETZ.)

Question: What is the source for [Tefilas] Ne'ilah?

Answer (R. Levi): "Gam Ki Sarbu Sefilah" - this shows that [normally,] anyone who prays much is answered. (Therefore, Chachamim enacted an extra Tefilah.)

Contradiction: R. Levi contradicts himself! There, R. Aba brei d'Rav Papi cited R. Yehoshua of Sichnin citing R. Levi to say that "b'Chol Etzev Yihyeh Mosar u'Devar Sefasayim Ach l'Machsor" - since Chanah prayed excessively, Shmuel's years were shortened!

Question: She said "v'Yashav Sham Ad Olam" - the "Olam" of a Levi is 50 years - "umi'Ben Chamishim Shanah Yashuv mi'Tzva ha'Avodah", and [Shmuel] lived to be 52!

Answer (R. Yosi bei R. Bun): ["Olam" does not include the] two years [that he nursed] before she weaned him [and brought him to the Mishkan. He lived 50 years from then.]

Summation of Contradiction: [There, R. Levi said that it is not good to pray much], and here he says so [that anyone who prays much is answered]!

Resolution: If he said so for an individual (he should not pray much), does the same apply to a Tzibur?! (They have more merits; through much prayer, they are answered - MAHARA FULDA.)

Question (R. Chiya citing R. Yochanan citing R. Shimon ben Chalafta citing R. Meir): "V'Hayah Ki Hirbesah Lehispalel Lifnei Hash-m" - this teaches that anyone who prays much is answered. (The verse discusses Chanah. SEFER NIR - even though R. Levi did not teach this, it is difficult, for presumably, he would not argue!)

Question: When is Tefilas Ne'ilah?

Answer (Rabanan of Kisarin): Rav and R. Yochanan argue about this. Rav said that it is [the time of] locking of gates of Shamayim. R. Yochanan said that it is locking of gates of the Heichal.

(R. Yudan Antundriya): A Mishnah supports R. Yochanan! At three times, Kohanim lift their hands (for Birkas Kohanim) four times in a day - at Shacharis, Musaf, Minchah and Ne'ilas Sha'arim on Ta'aniyos, in Ma'amados, and on Yom Kipur. Can you say that Ne'ilas Sha'arei Shamayim is during the day?! (Birkas Kohanim is only during the day. SHE'ELAS YA'AVETZ (1:51) says that Rav holds that the Hekesh of Brachah to Avodah is a mere Asmachta; it is only for what it was taught (to forbid drinking wine beforehand). Also, Avodah of the day we may finish it at night; likewise, even if Ne'ilah finishes at night, it is considered a Tefilah of the day.)

The brother of Rav Ada's father would guard Rav's Talis on Yom Kipur. [Rav] told him, when you see the sun at the top of the date trees, bring to me my Talis, to pray Ne'ilas Sha'arim.

Question: Rav contradicts himself! There he says that [that the time is at] Ne'ilas Sha'arei Shamayim, and here he says [before sunset, i.e.] Ne'ilas Sha'arei Heichal!

Resolution (R. Matanyah): Since he used to pray at great length, it lasted until close to Ne'ilas Sha'arei Shamayim.

Question: Can Ne'ilah exempt [one from praying Ma'ariv, i.e. the Tefilah] of the night?

Answer (R. Aba and Rav Huna citing Rav): Ne'ilah exempts Ma'ariv.

Question #1 (R. Aba, to R. Huna): Where does he mention Havdalah [in Ne'ilah]?!

Question #2 (R. Yonah, to R. Aba): [How can Rav say that Ne'ilah, which has only] seven [Brachos], exempts [Ma'ariv of Motza'ei Yom Kipur, which has] 18?

Note: This is difficult according to Rav's opinion below (Halachah 3, that in Havinenu one says the end of all the Brachos. According to Shmuel, it is seven Brachos, and it exempts 18!

R. Aba: Was [Rav] not already refuted [through my question? Why do you need to ask another question?]

R. Yonah: Due to [your seeming] refutation, [are Rav's words] Batel?! (Perhaps one can answer your question. Therefore, I need to ask my question!)

Answer (to Question #2 - R. Yosi): R. Aba's question is a proper question, but R. Yonah's question is not difficult. [Chachamim] were lenient for one due to his fast (he is in pain, and needs to eat) to say that seven [Brachos] exempt [the need to say] 18.

(R. Ba bar Mamal, to Talmidim): From all my Rebbeyim, I heard that Ne'ilah does not exempt Ma'ariv.

(R. Simon citing R. Levi): Ne'ilah does not exempt Ma'ariv.

Support (R. Yosi bei R. Bun): R. Chiya taught so, that every day one prays 18 [Brachos] - on Motza'ei Shabbos, Motza'ei Yom Kipur and Motza'ei Ta'anis Tzibur. (This shows that Ne'ilah does not exempt Ma'ariv.)

(R. Yitzchak bar Nachman citing R. Yehoshua ben Levi): If Yom Kipur falls on Shabbos, even though there is no Ne'ilah on [a regular] Shabbos, he mentions Shabbos in Ne'ilah.

They added to this - Rosh Chodesh that falls on a Ta'anis, even though there is no Ne'ilah on Rosh Chodesh, he mentions Rosh Chodesh in Ne'ilah.

(R. Simon citing R. Yehoshua ben Levi): Shabbos that falls during Chanukah, even though there is no Musaf on [a regular day of] Chanukah, he mentions Chanukah in Musaf.

They added to this - Rosh Chodesh that falls on [Chanukah], even though there is no Musaf on [a regular day of] Chanukah, he mentions Chanukah in Musaf.

Question: When Rosh Chodesh is a Ta'anis, where does [the Shali'ach Tzibur] mention the fast [in Musaf? An individual mentions it in Avodah, like all requests for the future.]

Answer #1 (R. Ze'irah): [He mentions it] in Hoda'ah (Modim).

Answer #2 (R. Ba bar Mamal): [He mentions it] in Avodah (Retzei).

Answer #3 (R. Avina): He says it for [a Brachah by itself, i.e.] the fourth Brachah.

Support (R. Ba): We find that everywhere, he says it for the fourth Brachah (i.e. by itself; "fourth" is not precise), also here it is the fourth Brachah. (We explained the question and answers like the Ritva, Ta'anis 13b DH Adberei).

[They concluded that] in practice, we do like R. Ba.