The Great Prayer Debate

It has been stated: Rabbi Yossi ben Hanina said: The prayers were instituted by the Patriarchs. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi says: The prayers were instituted to replace the daily sacrifices.

There is an earlier teaching that corresponds with Rabbi Yossi ben Hanina, and there is a teaching that corresponds with Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi.

This is the teaching that corresponds with Rabbi Yossi ben Hanina:

Abraham instituted the morning prayer, as it says (in Gen. 18:27), “And Abraham got up early in the morning to the place where he had stood,” and 'standing' refers to prayer, as it says (in Psalms 106:30), “Then Pinhas stood up and prayed.”

Isaac instituted the afternoon prayer, as it says (in Gen. 24:63), “And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at dusk,” and 'meditation' refers to prayer, as it says (in Psalms 102:1), “A prayer of the afflicted, when he faints and pours out his meditation before the Eternal.”

Jacob instituted the evening prayer, as it says (in. Gen 28:11), “And he encountered the place,” and 'encounter' refers to prayer, as it says (in Jeremiah 7:16), “Therefore do not pray for this people, neither lift up prayer nor cry for them, nor attempt to encounter me at all.”

This is the teaching that corresponds with Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi:

Why did they say that the morning prayer could be said until noon? Because the regular morning sacrifice could be brought up to noon. (Rabbi Yehudah, however, says that it may be said up to the fourth hour because the regular morning sacrifice may be brought up to the fourth hour.)

And why did they say that the afternoon prayer can be said up to the evening? Because the regular afternoon offering can be brought up to the evening. (Rabbi Yehudah, however, says that it can be said only up to the middle of the afternoon, because the evening offering could only be brought up to the middle of the afternoon.)

And why did they say that for the evening prayer there is no limit? Because the limbs and the fat which were not consumed on the altar by the evening could be brought for the whole of the night.

And why did they say that the additional prayer (musaf) could be said during the whole of the day? Because the additional offering could be brought during the whole of the day. (Rabbi Yehudah, however, said that it can be said only up to the seventh hour, because the additional offering can be brought up to the seventh hour....)

This seems to be a total refutation of Rabbi Yossi ben Hanina’s position!

But Rabbi Yossi ben Hanina said to this: I can still maintain that the Patriarchs instituted the prayers, but later, the Rabbis came and matched them up with the offerings.

And if you don’t say it this way, how can Rabbi Yossi ben Hanina account for the establishment of the Musaf prayer? So it must be (according to him) that the Patriarchs instituted the prayers, and then the Rabbis came and matched them up with the offerings.

(22) The men went on from there to Sodom, while Abraham remained standing before the Eternal. (23) Abraham came forward and said, “Will You sweep away the innocent along with the guilty? (24) What if there should be fifty innocent within the city; will You then wipe out the place and not forgive it for the sake of the innocent fifty who are in it? (25) Far be it from You to do such a thing, to bring death upon the innocent as well as the guilty, so that innocent and guilty fare alike. Far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth deal justly?” (26) And the Eternal answered, “If I find within the city of Sodom fifty innocent ones, I will forgive the whole place for their sake.” (27) Abraham spoke up, saying, “Here I venture to speak to my Lord, I who am but dust and ashes: (28) What if the fifty innocent should lack five? Will You destroy the whole city for want of the five?” And God answered, “I will not destroy if I find forty-five there.”

(62) Isaac had just come back from the vicinity of Beer-lahai-roi, for he was settled in the region of the Negeb. (63) And Isaac went out to meditate in the field toward evening and, looking up, he saw camels approaching...

(10) Jacob left Beer-sheba, and set out for Haran. (11) He came upon a certain place and stopped there for the night, for the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of that place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place. (12) He had a dream; a stairway was set on the ground and its top reached to the sky, and angels of God were going up and down on it. (13) And the Eternal was standing beside him and God said, “I am the Eternal, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac: the ground on which you are lying I will assign to you and to your offspring.

Thus there are three daily prayers; namely, the Evening Service (Aravit), the Morning Service (Shacharit) and the Afternoon Service (Mincha). On Sabbaths, Festivals and New Moons, they are four—the three daily services and the Additional Service (Musaf). On the Day of Atonement, they are five services, the four just mentioned and Neilah, the closing service.