The rabbis in the last Mishnah said that the issur, the prohibition of having business dealings with idolaters, begins three days before their holidays. So that’s three days before and the holiday itself, for a total of four days of prohibition on business. We’ll bring two other opinions in this Mishnah. Rabbi Yishmael says, “Three days before their holidays and three days after their holidays, a person is prohibited from having dealings with idol worshipers because they’re going to praise their gods for their good business even afterward.” According to Rabbi Yishmael, the holidays that they have continue after the holiday is over. There’s a lingering effect to it. So, therefore, there’s no business even three days after the holiday. So there’s a total of a seven-day prohibition.
But the Chachamim (sages) disagree and say, “No. Before the holiday of the idol worshipers, you’re not allowed to have business dealings with them. But after the holidays, it’s permitted. You’re allowed to have business dealings with them right away.” The Chachamim agree with the rabbis in the previous Mishnah that you’re not allowed to do business before the holiday. But once the holiday is over, it’s okay. The Chachamim of this Mishnah say three days beforehand, including the holiday itself. So it’s basically two days before the holiday and the holiday itself. The rabbis in the previous Mishnah added an extra day. They said three days before the holiday, and then, in addition to that, the holiday itself. So there’s a one-day difference between the rabbis in the last Mishnah and the rabbis in this Mishnah.