(Mishnah): The order of these fasts is said for the first rainfall. However, if crops [started to grow, and] changed [are getting ruined], we blow the Shofar immediately. (When it says that we blow the Shofar, all stringencies of the last seven fasts apply, unless stated otherwise.)

Similarly, if [rain fell, and] there was an interruption between rains of 40 days, we blow the Shofar immediately, for this is a sign of famine.

(Gemara) Question: What is "immediately'' for these [afflictions]?

Answer (Rav): We fast Monday, Thursday and Monday (we do not fast consecutive days).

Question: If [crops] changed on Monday, do we [begin fasting and] blow the Shofar on Thursday [for it is too long to wait a week until the coming Monday]?

Answer (R. Ze'irah): We learn from "va'Yomer Elai Al Tira Daniel Ki Min ha'Yom ha'Rishon Asher Nasata Es Libcha Lehavin u'Lehis'anos Lifnei Elokecha Nishme'u Devarecha'' - your words were already heard (from when you resolved to fast);

Here, once Beis Din decided to make [a fast], it is as if they already did. (There is no loss if the fast is not done until next Monday.)

(Beraisa): Just like we blow the Shofar for [these afflictions] in other years of the Shemitah cycle, so we blow the Shofar for them in Shevi'is [even though in any case we may not work the land], due to the income of others.

Question: What is "due to the income of others''?

Answer #1 (Talmidim): It is due to the income of Nochrim. (If their crops are stricken, prices will rise.)

Answer #1 (R. Ze'irah): It is due to the income of people suspected [to plant in Shemitah].

Observation: R. Ze'irah holds like Rebbi, and the Talmidim hold like R. Pinchas ben Ya'ir.

R. Ze'irah holds like Rebbi, for a barber was suspected about Peros Shemitah. They brought him to Rebbi. Rebbi said, what will this poor man do? He does [works in Shemitah] for his livelihood!

The Talmidim hold like R. Pinchas ben Ya'ir. Rebbi wanted to permit [working the land in] Shemitah (he holds that nowadays, it is only mid'Rabanan). R. Pinchas ben Ya'ir went to him. [Rebbi] said, how is the grain? (It is pressed circumstances; we must permit!) He said, the endives are good. (They grow by themselves, and the Isur of Sefichim does not apply to them. In pressed circumstances, people can eat them. We need not permit Shemitah.)

[Rebbi] said [again], how is the grain? He said, the endives are good. Rebbi knew that he does not agree [to permit Shemitah].

Rebbi: Does Rebbi (you) want to eat with us a bit of dried figs? He agreed.

When [R. Pinchas] descended, he saw Rebbi's mules standing. He said, do Yisraelim feed these [killers]?! Perhaps he will not see my face.

When [Rebbi's household] heard his voice (R. Pinchas' words), they went and told Rebbi. He sent to appease him. [The Sheluchim] reached him near his city. He said, "people of my city, come close to me'' (so Rebbi's Sheluchim will not reach me. We explained the episode like HA'GAON RAV C. KANIEVSKY, SHLITA.)

The people of his city descended and surrounded him. [The Sheluchim] said "Rebbi wants to appease him!'' [The people of his city] abandoned him and went away [due to the honor of Rebbi].

[R. Pinchas]: My children, come to close to me!

Fire descended from Shamayim and surrounded him. They went and told Rebbi. He said, since we did not merit [to benefit from his radiance] in this world, we should merit to be satiated [from his radiance] in the world to come!

(Mishnah): If [rain] fell for crops, but not for trees, [or] for trees, but not for crops, [or] for both of these, but not for Boros, Sichin (kinds of pits) and caves, we blow the Shofar for them immediately.

(Gemara): If [rain] fell for crops, but not for trees - this is when it falls a drop at a time. For trees, but not for crops - this is when it falls much at once, forcefully. For both of these, but not for Boros, Sichin and caves (it fell a drop at a time, and also (e.g. afterwards) much at once forcefully, but not enough to fill pits).

(Mishnah): We blow the Shofar for them immediately.

(Beraisa): We blow the Shofar for trees two weeks before Pesach, for Boros, Sichin and caves two weeks before Shavu'os.

Question: If so, [we blow for pits, we should do so] even past this [time]!

Answer: Past this [time] it is a miracle [for rain to fall], and we do not blow the Shofar for miracles.

(R. Berachiyah citing R. Chelbo Papa citing R. Lazar): Sometimes rain falls in the merit of one person, in the merit of one grass, or in the merit of one field. All three are mentioned in one verse;

"U'Matar Geshem Yiten Lahem l'Ish Esev ba'Sadeh'' - for a man, and not for men. For a grass, but not for [other] grasses. For a field, but not for fields.