There is no erech [which is] less than a sela, nor more than fifty selaim. How so? [If] he gave a sela and then became wealthy, he gives nothing; [if he gave] less than a sela, and then became wealthy, he must give fifty selaim. [If] he had in his hands five selaim, R’ Meir says: He need only give one. But the Sages say: He must give them all. There is no erech less than a sela, nor more than fifty selaim. There is no [returning to the] beginning [of the niddah cycle] for one who erred [in her calculation] in less than seven [days] nor [in] more than seventeen [days]. There is no [confinement of] negaim for less than one week, nor for more than three weeks.

We do not make less than four intercalated months in a year, and it does not appear [correct to make] more than eight. The Two Loaves are eaten not less than two [days after baking], nor more than three [days afterwards]. The Panim Breads are eaten not less than nine [days after baking], nor more than eleven [days afterwards]. An infant is circumcised not less than eight [days old], nor more than twelve.

We do not [blow] less than twenty-one trumpet blasts in the Temple, nor more than forty-eight. We do not [use] less than two lyres, nor more than six. We do not [use] less than two flutes, nor more than twelve. On twelve days during the year, the flute plays before the Altar: During the slaughtering of the first pesach offering, and during the slaughtering of the second pesach offering, and on the first Yom Tov of Pesach, and on the Yom Tov of Shavuos, and on the eight days of the Festival. And he would not play a copper flute, but a reed flute, because its sound is pleasant. And he would conclude with only a single flute, because it would make for a better close.

They were the slaves of the Kohanim; [these are] the words of R’ Meir. R’ Yose says: They were the families of Beis Hapegarim and Beis Tzipporiah, and from Emmaum, from which Kohanim would marry. R’ Chananya ben Antignos says: They were Levites.

We [keep] no less than six inspected lambs in the Chamber of the Lambs, sufficient for the Sabbath and for the two festive days of Rosh Hashanah. And we may add any number. We [take] no less than two trumpets, and we may add any number. We [take] no less than nine harps, and we may add any number, but there is only one cymbal.

We have no fewer than twelve Levites standing on the platform, and we may add any number. A minor may not enter the Temple Court for the service except when the Levites are standing in song. And they would not join in the song with lyre and harp but by mouth, in order to add harmony to the melody. R’ Eliezer ben Yaakov says: They do not count in the number, and they do not stand on the platform, but they would stand on the ground, with their heads between the legs of the Levites, and they were called the Levites’ tormentors.