R. Simon: The Pasuk states (Tehilim 40, 6), "You performed great things, You are Hash-m my G-d, your wonders and plans are towards us''. Originally, "You performed great things'', but from then on, "Your wonders and plans are towards us''.

R. Levi: It is comparable to a king who owned a clock. When his son came of age, the king gave it to him. (This is similar to Yisrael who were given control of the New Moon to keep time.)

R. Yosi bar Chanina: It is comparable to a king who owned a viewing hut (used for watching a vineyard). When his son came of age, the king gave it to him. (This is similar to Yisrael who were given the ability to view many aspects of the workings of the spiritual world.)

R. Acha: It is comparable to a king who owned a ring. When his son came of age, the king gave it to him.

R. Chiya bar Ba: It is comparable to a carpenter who owned carpentry tools. When his son came of age, the carpenter gave them to him.

R. Yitschak: It is comparable to a king who owned a treasure house. When the son came of age, the king gave them to him. (So Hash-m gave over the 'treasure houses' of rain so that righteous people can pray for rain and their prayers will be answered.)

Rabbanan: It is comparable to a doctor who had a pouch of medicines. When his son came of age, the doctor gave them to him. (So Hash-m gave over the ability to heal to the righteous people, such as Eliyahu and Elisha who could bring the dead back to life.)

The Mishnah had taught: On Rosh Hashanah, all come before Hash-m like 'Bnei Maron'.

R. Acha: 'Bnei Maron' means like sheep (who are sent, one by one, into a pen in order to count and tithe them).

Rabbanan: It is like 'Magnimim' - a narrow path that only allows people to walk in single file. What is the source for this? The Pasuk states (Tehilim 33, 15), "He forms the hearts of all of them, He considers their actions''.

R. Levi: This is understood to mean that 'when He forms the hearts of all of them, He has already considered their actions'.

R. Elazar: It is expected that if one would ask whether it is easier for a potter to make one hundred jugs or to look at one hundred completed jugs, the answer would be that it is easier to look at them. (However, during their manufacture, the potter cannot look at all of the jugs. But the way of Hash-m is different - He is able to look at all of them even during manufacture.) (Note: This entry follows the understanding of the Pnei Moshe.)

R. Berachya: "He forms the hearts of all of them'' - His will is that all of their hearts should be unified to serve Him.

R. Avun: The One who is alone in His world already understands all of their actions.

The Mishnah had taught: On Sukos is the judgment for water.

The Mishnah follows the view of R. Akiva who said that the water libations have their source in the written Torah. On the 2nd day (of Sukos) the Pasuk says "Venischeyhem'' (and their libations). On the 6th day, the Pasuk says "Unesacheha'' (and its libation). On the 7th day the Pasuk says "Kemishpatam'' (according to their laws). The extra letters are Mem Yud and Mem, which spells out the word Mayim - water.

The Torah says - Bring new crops of barley on Pesach, so that the crops will be blessed. Bring new crops of wheat on Shavuos, so that the fruits of the tree will be blessed.

This teaches that you should perform the water libations on Sukos in order that I will bless the waters on account of you.

Beraisa (RSB''I): If on Rosh Hashanah Yisrael were worthy and they were decreed to receive a large amount of rain; if they later sin, Hash-m cannot reduce the quantity of rain as the decree was already made. Rather, Hash-m scatters the rain in the seas, deserts and rivers to prevent the land from benefitting from them.

What is the source for this? The Pasuk states (Iyov 38, 26), "that it will rain on the land without man and in a desert without any person''.

If on Rosh Hashanah Yisrael were not worthy and they were decreed to receive a small amount of rain; if they later repent, Hash-m cannot add more rain as the decree was already made. Rather, Hash-m brings down rain for the land and settles them with dews and winds, in order that they will benefit the land.

What is the source for this? The Pasuk states (Tehilim 65, 11), "Watering her ridges abundantly, settling down her furrows You make her soft with raindrops; You bless her plants.'' (Even though there are only raindrops, i.e. a small quantity of rainwater, You bless her plants.)

The Pasuk states (Iyov 24, 19), "Just as drought and heat steal away melting snow, so the grave steals away the sinners.'' Sins that were done by Yisrael in the summer stole from them melting snow [in the winter]. (This proves that they are judged for rain on Sukos - since they sinned in the preceding summer, the rains will not fall in the winter that follows.)

The Pasuk states (Devarim 11, 12), "The eyes of Hash-m are upon constantly upon it, from the beginning of the year'' -

Kahana: It is written 'מרשית' - 'Merashis' (without the letter Alef)...'from the beginning of the year' - 'Merashis' means poverty - if they start the year by being worried and humble on Rosh Hashanah, ultimately the year will be good.