Tosefta zu Könige I 8:68

I would have thought that [a person] should pray [Shmoneh Esreh] in a loud voice. [However] it explains by Chana, “and Chana was talking in her heart…” (I Samuel 1:13) I would have thought [a person] may pray all [three Shmoneh Esreh] in one shot. [However] it explains by David, “Evening, and morning, and afternoon…” (Psalms 55:18) Evening that is the Maariv prayer, morning that is the Shacharit prayer, and afternoon that is the Mincha prayer. I would have thought that [first a person] should ask for his [personal] needs and then he [should] pray [the established text of Shmoneh Esreh] and go away [from standing in front of God]. [However] it explains by Shlomo, “… to hear the song and the prayer …” (I Kings 8:28) Song that is the song,4 prayer that is the request. And so it says, “Sing before Hashem…” (Psalms 33:1)

A blind person and someone who cannot recognize the directions, [should] direct their hearts towards God, and [only then] pray, as it is said, “And they should pray to Hashem…” (I Kings 8:44)4 Those that are standing outside of the Land of Israel [should] direct their hearts5 towards the Land of Israel, and [only then] pray, as it is said, “And those that pray to You by the way of their land…” (I Kings 8:48) Those that are standing in the Land of Israel [should] direct their hearts towards Yerushalayim, and [only then] pray, as it is said, “And they will pray to Hashem by the way of the city that You have chosen…” (I Kings 8:44) Those that are standing in Yerushalayim [should] direct their hearts towards Bet Hamikdash (Temple), as it is said, “…and they should pray towards this house.” (II Chronicles 6:32) Those that are standing inside the Bet Hamikdash [should] direct their hearts towards the Holy of Holies and [only then] pray, as it is said, “… they will pray towards this place.” (I Kings 8:30) It comes out that [all of those] standing in the north will be facing the south, [all of those] standing in the south will be facing the north, [all of those] standing in the east will be facing the west, [and all of those] standing in the west will be facing the east. And it will come out that all of the Jewish people will be praying towards one place.

A blind person and someone who cannot recognize the directions, [should] direct their hearts towards God, and [only then] pray, as it is said, “And they should pray to Hashem…” (I Kings 8:44)4 Those that are standing outside of the Land of Israel [should] direct their hearts5 towards the Land of Israel, and [only then] pray, as it is said, “And those that pray to You by the way of their land…” (I Kings 8:48) Those that are standing in the Land of Israel [should] direct their hearts towards Yerushalayim, and [only then] pray, as it is said, “And they will pray to Hashem by the way of the city that You have chosen…” (I Kings 8:44) Those that are standing in Yerushalayim [should] direct their hearts towards Bet Hamikdash (Temple), as it is said, “…and they should pray towards this house.” (II Chronicles 6:32) Those that are standing inside the Bet Hamikdash [should] direct their hearts towards the Holy of Holies and [only then] pray, as it is said, “… they will pray towards this place.” (I Kings 8:30) It comes out that [all of those] standing in the north will be facing the south, [all of those] standing in the south will be facing the north, [all of those] standing in the east will be facing the west, [and all of those] standing in the west will be facing the east. And it will come out that all of the Jewish people will be praying towards one place.

A blind person and someone who cannot recognize the directions, [should] direct their hearts towards God, and [only then] pray, as it is said, “And they should pray to Hashem…” (I Kings 8:44)4 Those that are standing outside of the Land of Israel [should] direct their hearts5 towards the Land of Israel, and [only then] pray, as it is said, “And those that pray to You by the way of their land…” (I Kings 8:48) Those that are standing in the Land of Israel [should] direct their hearts towards Yerushalayim, and [only then] pray, as it is said, “And they will pray to Hashem by the way of the city that You have chosen…” (I Kings 8:44) Those that are standing in Yerushalayim [should] direct their hearts towards Bet Hamikdash (Temple), as it is said, “…and they should pray towards this house.” (II Chronicles 6:32) Those that are standing inside the Bet Hamikdash [should] direct their hearts towards the Holy of Holies and [only then] pray, as it is said, “… they will pray towards this place.” (I Kings 8:30) It comes out that [all of those] standing in the north will be facing the south, [all of those] standing in the south will be facing the north, [all of those] standing in the east will be facing the west, [and all of those] standing in the west will be facing the east. And it will come out that all of the Jewish people will be praying towards one place.

Rabbi Yehuda said, “There was no ballot for the censer, but whoever was appointed for the incense, it was said to him, Thou art also appointed to the censer.” The last day of the festival has a ballot for itself, a festive season for itself, a pilgrimage for itself, an offering for itself, a song for itself, a benediction for itself, as it is said: “On the eighth day he sent the people away, and they blessed the king, and went into their tents joyful and glad of heart for all the goodness that the Lord had showed unto David his servant, and to Israel his people.” You might argue that they were not obliged to pass the night there. As it is written, “On the twenty-third day of the seventh month he sent the people away, and they went to their tents.” [2 Chronicles 7] This allows one to infer that, being dismissed while it was yet day, rising at dawn they were dismissed and went away.