1)

(a)The Mishnah learns from the Pasuk in Tehilim "Ivdu es Hash-m be'Yir'ah" - that one 'gets up to Daven the Amidah with deep humility and fear of Hash-m.

(b)The connection between this Pasuk and Tefilah - lies in the word "Ivdu" which refers to Tefilah (since Tefilah is described as 'Avodah she'ba'Lev' [see Tosfos Yom Tov, Mishnah 2, DH 'bi'Techi'as ha'Meisim']).

(c)The early Chasidim used to wait one hour before Davening - in order to develop the right Kavanah (see Tosfos Yom Tov).

2)

(a)The Tana requires a person who, during the Amidah ...

1. ... is greeted by a king or who ...

2. ... finds a snake close on his heels - not to interrupt (see Tosfos Yom Tov and Tos. Anshei-Shem).

(b)If it is a scorpion - he may interrupt ...

(c)... because unlike many species of snakes, which generally do not bite unless provoked, scorpions always bite.

(d)This ruling does not refer to snakes - that usually bite either.

(e)The Tana is referring to a Jewish king.

3)

(a)We ask for rain in the Berachah of 'Birchas ha'Shanim' (the Berachah for Parnasah) - because rain is synonymous with Parnasah.

(b)We mention it already in the Berachah of 'Techi'as ha'Meisim' - because rain demonstrates one of the powers of Hash-m, and it is befitting to mention it in the Berachah which speaks about Hashem's might ('Atah Gibor' [see also Tosfos Yom Tov]).

(c)The source for the Tana's description of rain as 'Gevuras Geshamim' is - the Pasuk in Iyov "Oseh Gedolos ad Ein Cheiker, ha'Nosen Matar al-P'nei ha'Aretz" (see Tosfos Yom Tov).

4)

(a)According to the Tana Kama, we mention 'Havdalah' in the Berachah of Chonein ha'Da'as, the first of the weekday Berachos. According to the Yerushalmi, we insert it there - because 'without Da'as, there is no distinction'.

(b)According to R. Akiva, we say it as a fourth, independent Berachah (see Tosfos Yom Tov). R. Eliezer says - that we insert it in 'Modim' (see Tosfos Yom Tov).

(c)The Halachah - is like the Tana Kama.

5)

(a)The Tana rules that if a person says 'Al Kan Tzipor Yagi'u Rachamecha', 'Al Tov Yizacher Shemecha' or 'Modim Modim' (see Tosfos Yom Tov DH 'ha'Omer ... ' & 'al Kan Tzipor'), he should be silenced. 'Al Kan Tzipor Yagi'u Rachamecha' (in this context) means - "Just as Your mercy extends to a bird's nest (in the form of the Mitzvah of Shilu'ach ha'Kein), so too, should it extend to us'.

(b)One silences the person who says ...

1. ... it - because Hashem's Mitzvos are meant as decrees, and do not stem from His mercy (which is certainly abundant).

2. ... 'Al Tov Yizacher Shemecha' - because it suggests that one need thank Hash-m only for the good things, and not for the things that are not so good.

(c)Saying 'Modim Modim' is wrong - inasmuch as it suggests that there are two gods (Chas ve'Shalom).

(d)The Yerushalmi qualifies these rulings - by confining them to what one says in public, but that in private, they are simply expressions of prayer.

6)

(a)The Mishnah rules that, in the event that the Sheli'ach Tzibur errs (and is unable to continue) - somebody else should take his place.

(b)When he adds that one should not refuse at that moment - he is referring to the Halachah that requires a person to decline twice when asked to act as Sheli'ach Tzibur from the beginning, before condescending to Daven the third time.

(c)One should not refuse in this case - because it is degrading for the community to have to wait so long in the middle of the repetition of the Amidah.

(d)The second Sheli'ach Tzibur begins - from the beginning of the Berachah where the first one erred.

7)

(a)Whilst the Kohanim are Duchening - the Mishnah forbids the Sheli'ach Tzibur to answer 'Amen' to the three Berachos of Birchas Kohanim.

(b)If he himself is ...

1. ... a Kohen - he is not permitted to Duchen, even if he is ...

2. ... the only Kohen.

(c)The reason for these rulings is - because we are afraid that the Sheli'ach Tzibur will get mixed up and be unable to continue, without delay, with the next word of Duchening, or with 'Sim Shalom'.

(d)He may Duchen however provided he is certain that he will not get mixed up (see Tosfos Yom Tov).

8)

(a)If someone errs during the Amidah, says the Tana, it is a bad sign for him. And if he is the Sheli'ach Tzibur - it is a bad sign for the community ...

(b)... because 'the Sheli'ach of a person is like oneself' (see Tosfos Yom Tov).

9)

(a)It was said about R. Chanina ben Dosa that, when he prayed for sick people - he would know immediately whether the person he was praying for would live or die.

(b)He knew that - by whether his Tefilah emerged fluent or not.

(c)'she'Hu Metoraf' might mean that the sick person was 'torn up' (i.e. would die), or it might mean that - his Tefilah was 'torn up' (i.e. was not accepted).