Time That Isn't Time

Our Rabbis taught: As to twilight [period] it is doubtful whether it is partly day or partly night, or the whole of it [belongs to the] day, or the whole of it night: [therefore] it is cast upon the stringencies of both days. And what is twilight? From sunset as long as the face of the east has a reddish glow: when the lower [horizon] is dark but not the upper, it is twilight; [but] when the upper [horizon] is dark and the same as the lower, it is night: this is the opinion of R. Judah. R. Nehemiah said: For as long as it take a man to walk half a mil (about 3/4^th of a mile) from sunset. R.Yosi said: Twilight is as the twilight of an eye, on entering and the other departing, and it is impossible to determine it. The Master said: ‘One applies to it the stringencies of both day.’ In respect of what [point of] law? Said Rav Huna son of R. Joshua, in respect to uncleanness. Even as we learnt: if he saw [discharges] on two days at twilight, he is doubtful in respect of uncleanness and sacrifices: if he sees [a dishcharge] one day at twilight, he is doubtful in respect of uncleanness.

(6) Ten things were created on the eve of the [first] Sabbath at twilight, And these are they: [1] The mouth of the earth [that swallowed Korach in Numbers 16:32 ], [2] The mouth of the well [that accompanied the Israelites in the Wilderness in Numbers 21:17], [3] The mouth of the donkey [that spoke to Balaam in Numbers 22:28–30 ], [4] The rainbow [that served as a covenant after the Flood in Genesis 9:13 ], [5] The manna [that God provided the Israelites in the Wilderness in Exodus 16:4–21 ], [6] The rod [of Moses], [7] The Shamir [worm that helped build the Temple without metal tools], [8] The letters, [9] The writing, and [10] The tablets [of the Ten Commandments]. And some say: Also the destructive spirits, And the burial place of Moses, our teacher, And the ram of Abraham, our father. And some say: Also the [first human-made] tongs, made with [Divine] tongs.

(32) And the earth opened her mouth and swallowed them up, and their households, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods.

Rabbi Yosi the son of Rabbi Judah said there were three strong pillars that stood before Israel, and these are Moses, Aaron and Miriam. And they were given three gifts: a well, a cloud and manna. The well was because of the merit of Miriam, the cloud was because of the merit of Aaron, and the manna because of the merit of Moses.

(28) And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam: ‘What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?’

(14) And it shall come to pass, when I bring clouds over the earth, and the bow is seen in the cloud, (15) that I will remember My covenant, which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. (16) And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.’ (17) And God said unto Noah: ‘This is the token of the covenant which I have established between Me and all flesh that is upon the earth.’

(4) Then said the LORD unto Moses: ‘Behold, I will cause to rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in My law, or not. (5) And it shall come to pass on the sixth day that they shall prepare that which they bring in, and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily.’

(2) And the LORD said unto him: ‘What is that in thy hand?’ And he said: ‘A rod.’