1)

(a)Rav Masna attributes Chamishah Asar b'Av to the dead of Beitar - who were killed fifty-two years after the second Churban, but whose blood the Romans used to fertilize their vineyards, and whom they therefore forbade to be buried. A miracle occurred, and when eventually, a number of years later, the decree was rescinded, all the bodies had not even begun to decompose.

(b)So Chazal instituted the Berachah of 'ha'Tov veha'Metiv' - both as the fourth Berachah of Birchas ha'Mazon, and to recite when drinking a superior wine during a meal (under certain circumstances [see Tosfos DH 'Tiknu']).

(c)'ha'Tov veha'Metiv' means - 'ha'Tov', that the bodies did not decompose; 'veha'Metiv' - that the decree was rescinded and permission was granted to bury them.

2)

(a)Rabah and Rav Yosef presents the final reason for the institution of Chamishah-Asar b'Av in connection with the cutting of the wood for the Beis Hamikdash. As a result of that, it became known as 'Yom Tavar Magal' - which means the day on which they broke their axes (since they were no longer needed to cut the wood for the Mizbe'ach).

(b)They stopped cutting wood for the Mizbe'ach then - because from then onwards, the days become shorter and the heat of the sun begins to decrease. Consequently, the wood is not so dry and contains more worms (in which case it is disqualified from going on the Mizbe'ach).

(c)The real reason for the rejoicing is - the fact that, since the nights now become longer, there is more time to study Torah ...

(d)... and David wrote in Tehilim "Pikudei Hash-m Yesharim, Mesamchei Lev").

(e)The Beraisa says about someone who does not avail himself of the opportunity to learn extra 'mi'Kan va'Eilech, d'Lo Mosif Yasif'. Rav Yosef explains this statement to mean - that his mother will bury him.

3)

(a)A princess would borrow a dress from the daughter of the Kohen Gadol. The daughter of ...

1. ... the Kohen Gadol - from the deputy Kohen Gadol ...

2. ... the deputy Kohen Gadol - from the Kohen Gadol for war, and ...

3. ... the Kohen for war - from another Kohen.

(b)We learned in our Mishnah that all the borrowed dresses required Tevilah. This extended even to dresses that came straight from their owners' wardrobes, in spite of the fact that they had never been worn - so that those girls who had worn their dresses should not have cause to be embarrassed (when they saw them being Toveled).

(c)It was customary for men who were not yet married to go out to the vineyards whilst the girls were dancing there - to choose themselves a wife.

4)

(a)In spite of our Mishnah, the Beraisa divides the groups of girls into three.

1. The beautiful ones among them say - 'Look for beauty, since a woman is only for beauty'.

2. The ugly ones - 'Make your choice for Hash-m's sake, provided you adorn us with golden ornaments (or with beautiful clothes) after we are married.

(b)Ula Bira'ah Amar Rebbi Elazar learns from the Pasuk in Yeshayah "v'Amar ba'Yom ha'Hu Hinei Elokeinu Zeh, Kivinu Lo v'Yoshi'enu, Zeh Hash-m Kivinu Lo, Nagilah v'Nismechah bi'Yeshu'aso" - that when Mashi'ach comes, Hash-m will sit in the middle whilst the Tzadikim dance round him, and each Tzadik will point a finger at Him and declare 'Behold this is our G-d, we hoped that He would redeem us. This is the G-d in whom we hoped, let us revel and rejoice at His salvation.