Arakhin

the new moon1 would come three days too early! But now, too. It would come two days too early?2 — This is in accord with what R. Mesharsheya said: ‘It refers to a case where the preceding year was prolonged’,3 Here, too, the reference is to a year following a prolonged year, and the prolongation of a year is one month.4 But put one full month against one incomplete month, and there will be still one day left?5 — People do not pay too much attention to that.6 ‘Ulla said: [the meaning is,] It did not seem right to the Sages to make more than eight defective months. He [the Tanna] states here a reason:7 What is the reason that it did not seem right to the Sages to have less than four full months? Because it did not seem right to them to have more than eight defective months. Why not nine? Because in that case the new moon would be coming three days too late?8 But now, too, it would be coming two days too late? — That is to be explained in accord with R. Mesharsheya: ‘It refers to a case where the preceding year was prolonged’; here, too, the reference is to a year following a prolonged year.9 Deduct one defective month against one full month, and still there will be one day left?10 They [the people] will say: It [the moon] has actually been seen, whilst we had paid no attention.11 [ cause popular murmuring against the ‘arbitrariness of the Sages’. to eight full months? Normally six full months plus six defective ones would take care of the situation. regained one day. which is counter-balanced by one day of the eight full months this year. intervenes between the new moon of Tishri and the fixation of the New Year; so that popular clamour against the Sanhedrin's margin would be aroused still. right to the Sages to have more than eight defective months’, so that the New Moon should not appear three days after the New Year. moon, had escaped themselves.