Babylonian Talmud: Tractate ‘Abodah Zarah

Folio 47a

R. Simeon b. Lakish asked: How is it if a man had worshipped a palm-tree, may its branch be used for the fulfilment of the commandment?⁶  If it was a tree originally planted for idolatry the question does not arise, because it is prohibited even for secular use; but the question does arise with a tree which had been planted and subsequently worshipped. Now according to the view of R. Jose son of R. Judah,⁷  [even then] the question does not arise because it is prohibited by him even for secular use; but the question does arise according to the view of the Rabbis.⁸  How, then, is [the branch] to be regarded in connection with the fulfilment of a commandment; is it to be rejected in the divine Service or not? — When R. Dimi came⁹  he said: [R. Simeon b. Lakish] asked the question in connection with an Asherah¹⁰  which had been annulled: Does a disability continue in respect of commandments or not?¹¹  — You can solve this problem from what we have learnt: If one covered it,¹²  and it became uncovered,¹³  he is free from the obligation to cover it again; but if the wind covered it,¹⁴  he is obliged to cover it himself. And Rabbah b. Bar Hanah said in the name of R. Johanan: This teaching only applies when the wind again uncovered it,¹⁵  but if the wind did not again uncover it, he is free from the obligation to cover it. And we raised the question against this point of view: If the wind again uncovered it, what of it?¹⁶  Since [the blood] has been obliterated [by the covering], it is obliterated [once for all]! Thereupon R. Papa said: This proves that a disability does not continue in respect of commandments.¹⁷  But there is a question in connection with this very statement of R. Papa, viz., Is it quite clear to R. Papa that disability does not continue in respect of commandments either to take a lenient¹⁸  or strict¹⁹  view; or perhaps he is doubtful; and we apply [accordingly] this rule to the strict view only and not to the lenient?²⁰  — The question remains unanswered.

R. Papa asked: How is it if a man worshipped an animal; may its wool be used for blue thread? 'Blue thread' for what purpose? If it is for the blue material of the priests' [garments], that is dealt with in the question of Rami b. Hama!²¹  If it is for the blue thread of the zizith,²²  that is dealt with in the question of R. Simeon b. Lakish!²³  — Quite so, there was no need [for R. Papa] to ask about this; but the reason why he raised the question is because there are other similar matters [about which he asked, viz.]: May its wool be used for blue thread, its horns for trumpets, the bones of its legs for flutes, its intestines for harp-strings?²⁴  According to him, who says that the basis of [Temple-] music is in the instrument, the question does not arise because these are certainly prohibited; but the question does arise according to him who says that the basis of [Temple-] music is in the mouth. Is, then, the purpose [of the instrument] only to sweeten the sound²⁵  and we may introduce them [when made of these materials], or perhaps even then it is prohibited? — The question remains unanswered.

Rabbah asked: How is it if a man worshipped a fountain; may its water be used for the drink-offerings? What is the point of his question? Is it whether the man worshipped his reflection [in the water],²⁶  or perhaps he worshipped the water itself?²⁷  He could, then, have put the same question about a bowl of water and its use for secular purposes!²⁸  — Certainly [it is assumed] that he worshipped the water; and this is the point of his question: Did he worship the water which was in front of him and that water has flowed away,²⁹  or did he worship the whole stream of water? But can [water which has been worshipped] be prohibited at all; for behold R. Johanan said in the name of R. Simeon b. Jehozedek: Water which is public property is not prohibited [if an individual worshipped it]! — No, it was necessary [to ask the question] where it is water which wells up front the earth.³⁰

MISHNAH. IF [AN ISRAELITE] HAS A HOUSE ADJOINING AN IDOLATROUS SHRINE AND IT COLLAPSED, HE IS FORBIDDEN TO REBUILD IT.³¹  HOW SHOULD HE ACT? HE WITHDRAWS A DISTANCE OF FOUR CUBITS INTO HIS OWN GROUND AND THERE BUILDS. [IF THE WALL] BELONGED BOTH TO HIM AND THE SHRINE, IT IS JUDGED

1. Because the act was committed against the animal and its embryo.
2. The flour being in the ears of corn when these were worshipped, it is therefore prohibited.
3. [According to the first version, Mar Sutra expressed no opinion as to the use of the flour for offerings; in the second he forbids it.]
4. When still an embryo.
5. It had an existence as an animal while still in the womb.There had been no essential change as the effect of birth
6. On the Feast of Tabernacles; v. Lev. XXIII, 40.
7. He maintained that if a tree had been planted and afterwards worshipped its use is prohibited. V. supra 45b.
8. Who oppose R. Jose b. R. Judah supra, loc. cit.
9. From Palestine to Babylon.
10. Consisting of a palm-tree.
11. The disability in this case was removed when the Asherah was annulled so far as secular use is concerned: but does it continue when it is a question of using it to carry out a precept of the Torah?
12. The blood of an animal or bird which had been slaughtered; v. Lev. XVII, 13.
13. The wind blew the dust off.
14. The wind blew dust over the blood in the first instance.
15. After covering it in the first instance and it was not covered by the slaughterer.
16. Why is a second covering necessary?
17. [And when the disability is removed the precept, in this case the covering of the blood, must be fulfilled.]
18. And permit the use of a branch for the ritual from an Asherah which has been annulled.
19. And require the second covering of the blood.
20. [And the branch of the Asherah which has been annulled cannot be employed for the precept.]
21. When he asked whether the preparation of a sacrifice is analogous to the sacrifice, since the priestly garments are a preparation. V. infra 46b.
22. V. Glos.
23. Who asked whether the branch of an Asherah can be used in the Feast of Tabernacles.
24. For the music in the Temple.
25. To give an accompaniment to the vocal music.
26. Then obviously it may be used because the water was not worshipped.
27. It would then obviously be prohibited.
28. If that was the point of his question; so why does he ask about a well and its use for drink-offerings?
29. And consequently the fountain may be used even for divine Service.
30. It is the property of an individual. The question remains unanswered.
31. Because by rebuilding his house, he restores the wall of the shrine.

GEMARA. [But by acting as directed in the Mishnah], he enlarges the space for the shrine! — R. Hanina of Sura said: He should use [the four cubits] for constructing a privy. But it is necessary to safeguard modesty!⁶  — He should make a privy for use at night. But behold a Master has said: Who is modest? He who relieves himself at night in the same place where he relieves himself by day!⁷  And although we explain that [in that statement] the phrase 'in the same place' is to be understood as 'in the same manner,'⁸  still it is necessary to safeguard modesty! — He should, then, make [a privy] for children; or let him fence in the space with thorns and shrubs.⁹

MISHNAH. THERE ARE THREE TYPES OF SHRINES:¹⁰  A SHRINE ORIGINALLY BUILT FOR IDOLATROUS WORSHIP — BEHOLD THIS IS PROHIBITED.¹¹  IF A MAN PLASTERED AND TILED [AN ORDINARY HOUSE] FOR IDOLATRY AND RENOVATED IT, ONE MAY REMOVE THE RENOVATIONS.¹²  IF HE HAD ONLY BROUGHT AN IDOL INTO IT AND TAKEN IT OUT AGAIN, [THE HOUSE] IS PERMITTED.¹³

GEMARA. Rab said: If one worshipped a house, he has rendered It prohibited. Conclude, then, that he holds that an object which is not fixed in the ground and subsequently becomes fixed is like an unfixed object.¹⁴  But the Mishnah deals with a shrine built [originally for idolatry]!¹⁵  — [The prohibition applies to a shrine] built [originally for idolatry] although nobody has yet worshipped in it, and to one in which somebody worshipped although he had not built it.¹⁶  If that be so, the three types [mentioned in the Mishnah] should be four!¹⁷  — Since the reference is to the subject of annulment,¹⁸  the erection [of a shrine] and worshipping there are considered one and the same thing.

MISHNAH. THERE ARE THREE KINDS OF [IDOLATROUS] STONES:¹⁹  A STONE WHICH A MAN HEWED ORIGINALLY TO SERVE AS A PEDESTAL [FOR AN IDOL] — BEHOLD THIS IS PROHIBITED. IF A MAN [MERELY] PLASTERED AND STUCCOED [A STONE] FOR IDOLATRY, ONE MAY REMOVE THE PLASTER AND STUCCO, AND IT IS THEN PERMITTED. IF HE SET AN IDOL UPON IT AND TOOK IT OFF, BEHOLD [THE STONE] IS PERMITTED.

GEMARA. R. Animi said: [It is only prohibited] if he plastered and stuccoed in the stone itself.²⁰  But surely it is, as we learn, analogous to a house; and²¹  in the case of a house [the plastering] was not inserted into the material and yet it is prohibited!²²  — Also with the house there is [that kind of plastering] in the space between the bricks. [Since, however, the Mishnah does not mention this,] may we not be dealing with the circumstance where he plastered [a house not for idolatry] and then re-plastered it [for idolatry]?²³  — Therefore, if R. Ammi's teaching is quoted it must be with reference to annulment,²⁴  and although the man plastered and stuccoed in the stone itself, if he removes the renovation, it is all right — For²⁵  what you might have said was that since he plastered and stuccoed in the material of the stone, it is analogous to a stone which had been originally hewn for idolatry and the whole of it is prohibited. He consequently informs us [that it is not so].

1. So he reckons his four cubits from half the wall's thickness.
2. V. Lev. XI, 31. Even the debris of his own part of the wall defiles, because it cannot be clearly distinguished from that of the shrine.
3. Deut. VII, 26.
4. V. Glos and v. Lev. XV, 19 ff. This is more contaminating.
5. Isa. XXX, 22. The Heb. word for unclean thing also denotes a woman in her time of uncleanness.
6. When arranging for the construction of a privy, and here he is not allowed to put up a wall.
7. Even at night he should go to a walled-in place.
8. V. Ber. 62a.
9. And use the space behind as a privy.
10. With regard to the question of annulment.
11. And must be annulled before it can be used.
12. And then the house is permitted.
13. No annulment is necessary.
14. The materials were originally unfixed, but being built into the house are now fixed. Therefore the house is prohibited.
15. Consequently if not built with that intention, it should not be prohibited.
16. In either case it is forbidden, the Mishnah dealing only with one of the two cases — the former.
17. There should be added a fourth category, viz., a shrine built for idolatry but not yet used for that purpose.
18. And not prohibiting the house.
19. With reference to annulment.
20. It was not merely external ornamentation; but incisions had been made in the stone and plaster inserted.
21. [Ms.M. omits 'surely … and'.]
22. V. preceding Mishnah.
23. In that case none of the new plaster penetrated, and yet the house is prohibited unless the stucco is removed.
24. And not to prohibiting the stone.
25. If R. Ammi had not given this explanation.