Why did they pay so much for Temidim?

Daf Al ha'Daf citing Birkas Eliyahu: Ohr ha'Chayim (Vayikra 6:2) says that it is because no Korban can be offered before the Tamid. If not for this, perhaps they would not have paid so much for one lamb every day. (NOTE: Our Gemara says that they gave to them Temidim (plural) every day, i.e. two. Ohr ha'Chayim implies that they bought only one, for the afternoon Tamid is not Me'akev. - PF) Sefas Emes says that 'Tamid' implies that if it is omitted one day, even if they offer afterwards, it is not Tamid. This is why one of the five calamities of the 17th of Tamuz was Bitul of the Tamid (three weeks before Churban Bayis Rishon). It implies that it was never omitted until then.

Where was the old man?

Rashi: He was inside. (NOTE: If not, would not have needed Chachmas Yevanis to tell those outside! - PF)

What is Chachmas Yevanis?

Rashi: It is gestures.

Maharal: It is natural science. It includes everything except for Torah. Even though it is a Mitzvah to calculate Tekufos and Mazalos, this is needed to fix years and months. Also, Tekufos and Mazalos make an impression on people - "v'Es Po'al Hash-m Lo Hibitu" (it is derogatory not to know them). He does not enter Chachmas Yevanis, just he sees the orbits of the Mazalos, sun and moon. Regarding astrologers, Shmuel said 'Torah is not often found among them.' They asked him, are you not an astrologer? He said, I look at them only when I cease Torah to go to the privy. This shows that one may not look at stars - only calculating Tekufos and Mazalos, to see Hash-m's acts, is permitted. One may learn other Chochmos only from the Torah. 'Delve in it, delve in it, for everything is in it' (Avos 5:22) - everything comes from Torah. One may not learn them not from the Torah, and all the more so because they have matters that oppose Hash-m and His Torah! Chachmas Yevanis is Chochmah that does not pertain to Emunah. (NOTE: How does he explain 'La'az (he said to) the besiegers in Chachmas Yevanis'? Perhaps he used words known only to people who study Chachmas Yevanis. - PF)

Daf Al ha'Daf (99b, citing Chasam Sofer): All seven Chochmos are needed to know Torah. In order to know to accept testimony of the new moon, he must know the trajectories of the sun and moon. One cannot judge a witch without knowing witchcraft and Chochmah of the easterners. Hilchos Tereifos require deep knowledge of dissection. Songs of the Leviyim requires knowing the Chochmah of music. Division of Eretz Yisrael requires knowing how to measure land and geography. [Halachos of] plating Kil'ayim and their nurturing requires knowledge of botany. The 39 Melachos of Shabbos show Chazal's expertise in all Melachos, e.g. weaving, looms and all natural science. We have no Sefer about these Chochmos; Goyim have many Seforim about all of these. However, we may not learn from them, due to "v'Hagisa Bo Yomam va'Laylah." If one may not learn them, how will we know what is needed for Torah? The Chasam Sofer said, even if Torah is two Zerets long and two Zerets wide, it is longer than the land and wider than the sea. The words and letters of the Torah hint to everything - all Chochmos, what is above and below, in front and in back. Surely "ha'Chodesh ha'Zeh Lachem" hints to all Chochmos needed for Kidush ha'Chodesh, more than what the Rambam copied from Goyim's Seforim. The Ramban on "Zeh Sefer Toldos Adam" brings that Rav Sherira Gaon derived from this verse all Chochmos of lines in the hands and face. We believe that Hash-m created the world via Torah. Surely the roots of all Chochmos are rooted in Torah!

Hagahah in Anaf Yosef (99a): It is Greek philosophy that contradicts Torah.

Here it says that they cursed one who will teach to his son Chachmas Yevanis. Below (99b) it implies that one who learned the entire Torah, like R. Yishmael's nephew Ben Dama, would be allowed to learn Chachmas Yevanis, if not for "Lo Yamush Sefer ha'Torah ha'Zeh mi'Picha" (99b). It implies that according to the opinion that via Keri'as Shma morning and evening, he fulfills "Lo Yamush", one may learn Chachmas Yevanis!

Tosfos: That is when there is a need. Perhaps Ben Dama was close to the kingdom. We find that they permitted Beis Raban Gamliel to learn Chachmas Yevanis for this reason (Sotah 49b). Perhaps R. Yishmael did not permit him, for it was not such a need for the Tzibur, like it was for Raban Gamliel.

Tosfos citing Rabbeinu Shmuel: That was before the decree against Chachmas Yevanis. (It was forbidden only due to Bitul Torah.)

Tosfos: This cannot be! After the Churban, R. Yishmael was a child, and R. Yehoshua redeemed him (Gitin 58a). And even if you will say that here discusses the R. Yishmael who was among the Asarah Harugei Malchus, he was not so much earlier [to be before the decree]. He was killed with R. Shimon ben Gamliel, and we say that Hillel, Gamliel and [his son] Shimon were Nesi'im in the last 100 years of Bayis Sheni. Malchus ha'Chashmona'im ceased 103 years before the Churban (Avodah Zarah 9a) - that is when Hordus seized power! If you will say that they decreed in Titus' attack, like it says in Sotah (49a) during the siege of Titus, they decreed against brides' crowns and not to teach one's son Chachmas Yevanis (Greek). That was at the time of the Churban, long after Malchus Beis Chashmonai! R. Yakov b'Ribi Shimon said, initially they decreed, and it was not accepted. In the end they decreed and it was accepted. Alternatively, initially there was a curse - one who wanted to accept the curse mid'Rabanan, he was permitted. In the end they absolutely forbade. However, this is difficult, for we say 'Arur includes curse and Niduy' (excommunication - Shevu'os 36a)!

Anaf Yosef (99a): The curse was only not to teach Chachmas Yevanis to one's son. Ben Dama was unsure if this is because "v'Shinantam l'Vanecha" (teach to your son Torah, and not other matters like Chachmas Yevanis), or because a youth must learn the Mitzvos and their reasons.

Why were the Omer and Shtei ha'Lechem brought from Gagos Tzerifin and Ein Socher at that time?

Rashi: The soldiers destroyed [all the grain] near Yerushalayim.

Maharsha: The enemy did so to cease the Avodah, like they stopped the Tamid. (NOTE: We may not offer Menachos from new grain before offering Shtei ha'Lechem. - PF) Grain was left only in these two far places. They covered barley with Gagos Tzerifin, lest the enemy see it, and wheat was Sagur and hidden from the Ayin(eye). Therefore, they revealed this only to mutes, who cannot tell the enemy.

Iyun Yakov: The matter was revealed via a deaf person, for that generation made themselves deaf (closed their ears) from learning Torah.

How did the deaf man know that they needed to know from where they can bring the Omer and Shtei ha'Lechem?

Rashi: He could hear; he was mute.

What is a Tzerif?

Rashi: It is a hut from willow branches with a pointy roof.

Who was Mordechai?

Rashi: This is the Mordechai in the days of Achashverosh.

Tosfos: This is astounding, to say that he lived so long! (NOTE: Mordechai was among the Chachamim exiled 11 years before Churban Bayis Rishon. The Chashmona'im were 300 years later. However, according to Bava Basra 91a, Elimelech and Ploni Almoni lived more than 300 years! Refer to Mafteach to Rus 2:1:1:1 and the note there. - PF)

Daf Al ha'Daf citing Imrei Pinchas (2 p.24): Mordechai opposed Haman, who is from Amalek; as long as Amalek is in the world, Hash-m's name is not complete - "Ki Yad Al Kes Kah." Mordechai is called Pesachyah - Pesach Yud-Kei, to complete the name that was cut due to Amalek.

Tosfos: The appointees [over the box with money for Kinim] were called Mordechai, for we appoint only experts with intellect and knowledge. (NOTE: It says below (65a) 'Pesachyah - this is Mordechai.' This implies that he is the known Mordechai! Also, our Gemara says that he is Mordechai Bilshan, who returned from Bavel over 200 years earlier; Megilah 16b holds that this is Mordechai of the Megilah. - PF)

What is Sichra?

Rashi: It is the hole for the door bolt.

Tosfos #1: It is a grave, like 'from the wall of the city to the Sichra' (place where people are buried - Megilah 29a).

Tosfos #2: It is a place where they dam the river - "Osei Secher Agmei Nafesh."

Why did people think that all the Kinim were Chovah?

Rashi: Zivasi was for being Zivah (seeing blood for three consecutive days in the 11 days after Nidah). Yamasi means 'my blood that spurted like a Yam (sea, i.e. Zivah).' Onasi means my time to bring a Korban for Zivah, on day eight (after immersing after seven consecutive days without blood).

Rashi: In both, 'Oso' refers to the Shechinah.

What danger is from Zivasi, Yamasi and Onasi?

Rashi: Zivasi is heavy bleeding, Yamasi is danger at sea, and Onasi is a dangerous eye illness.