Study Avodah Zarah folio 10A with parallel Hebrew-English text, traditional commentary, and modern study tools. Free access to Babylonian Talmud online.
a date that had 6 additional years relative to the correct scribal date, which takes for its starting point the beginning of Greek rule. The rabbis who studied before Rabba thought to say: This is a postdated promissory note, which can be used only from the date it specifies. Therefore, let us hold
Rav Naḥman cites a proof for his resolution: As it is taught in a baraita that R' Yosei says: The Greeks ruled for 6 years in Elam alone, and afterward their dominion spread throughout the entire world. It is the later event that serves as the basis for the dating system used by most scribes.
Rav Aḥa bar Ya’akov objects to Rav Naḥman’s answer: From where is it known that we count years according to the Greek rule, and that this promissory note was dated according to a system that uses the Greek rule as a starting point and was written by an exacting scribe? Perhaps we count the years us
Upon hearing this reply, Rav Aḥa bar Ya’akov thought: Rav Naḥman is merely deflecting my legitimate questions with this answer. Afterward, he went out, examined the matter, and discovered that it was as Rav Naḥman said. As it is taught in a baraita: In the exile we count years only according to the
Ravina said: The Mishnah is also precisely formulated, as it teaches that we calculate years according to the Greek kings. As we learned in a Mishnah (Rosh HaShana 2a): On the 1st of Nisan is the New Year for kings and for the Festivals. And we say about this: With regard to what halakha is it state