יכול ישאל אדם צרכיו ואח"כ יתפלל כבר מפורש על ידי שלמה שנאמר (מלכים א ח, כח) לשמוע אל הרנה ואל התפלה רנה זו תפלה תפלה זו בקשה אין אומר דבר (בקשה) אחר אמת ויציב אבל אחר התפלה אפי' כסדר וידוי של יה"כ אומר איתמר
It is possible to imagine that a man could pray for his own needs and afterwards say the statutory prayers ; but it has already been clearly stated by Solomon, viz. "To hearken unto the cry and to the prayer" (I Kings viii. 28) — "cry" means statutory prayer, and "prayer" means personal supplication. One may not offer anything [of personal supplication] after "True and firm": but after the Tefillah, he can say something even like the order of confession for the Day of Atonement, It has been likewise reported : R. Hiyya b. Ashe declared in the name of Rab :
Tosefta Berakhot
Just like the Torah established a set time to read the Shema, so too the Sages established a set time for [the] prayer [of Shemoneh Esreh]. Why did they say [that] the morning prayer [of Shmoneh Esreh can be prayed only] until noon? Because the morning Tamid (daily offering) [sacrifice] could be brought [only] until noon. Rebbi Yehudah says, “[The morning prayer of Shmoneh Esreh can be prayed only] until [the end of the first] four hours [of the day].” And why did they say that the Mincha (afternoon) prayer [of Shemoneh Esreh can only be prayed] until the evening? Because the afternoon Tamid [sacrifice] could be brought [only] until the evening. Rebbi Yehudah says, “[The Mincha prayer of Shmoneh Esreh can be prayed only] until Plag Hamincha.” And when is Plag Hamincha? Eleven minus one quarter hours [of the day] (i.e. 10 ¾ hours). And why did they say that the evening prayer [of Shmoneh Esreh] does not have a set time? Because the limbs and fats [of the sacrifices] could be brought the whole night. And why did they say that the Mussaf prayer [of Shmoneh Esreh can be prayed] the whole day? Because the Mussaf (additional offering) sacrifice could be brought the whole day. Rebbi Yehudah says, “[The Mussaf prayer can be prayed] until [the end of the first] seven hours [of the day].”
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