Avodah Zarah 11a

עבודה זרה י״א ע״א

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Topic

The story of אונקלוס the convert, אנטונינוס and רבי, and the burning done at the death of kings

Overview

This amud opens with a short line that closes the previous story: 'the bundle is separated.' Next comes the story of אונקלוס, a Roman who became a גר. The קיסר sends three troops of soldiers to bring him back, and אונקלוס wins each troop over. He uses פסוקים, then a parable about torches, then the meaning of the מזוזה, until the קיסר gives up. The גמרא then returns to אנטונינוס, using a דרשה to read 'two nations' in רבקה's womb as two great men, אנטונינוס and רבי, and settles a question about whether cucumbers are healthy. Back in the משנה, the גמרא first infers that רבי מאיר and the רבנן disagree about whether burning at a king's death is an idolatrous custom. A ברייתא shows that Jews burn items for kings, so the גמרא explains the argument differently. Everyone agrees burning is a sign of honor, and the only question is which deaths the idolaters celebrate. Finally, the גמרא studies that ברייתא: what may be burned or destroyed for kings and נשיאים, אונקלוס's burning for רבן גמליאל, and cutting animals' hooves. That last discussion continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (26)

1. ConclusionThe bundle is separated
2. Statementאונקלוס converts and wins over the first troop
3. StatementA second troop is sent with orders not to speak
4. QuestionThe parable of who carries the torch
5. ProofGod carries the torch for Israel
6. StatementA third troop is sent with orders not to talk at all
7. Questionאונקלוס points to a מזוזה
8. Responseאונקלוס explains the מזוזה
9. ConclusionThe soldiers convert and the emperor gives up
10. StatementTwo great ones in רבקה's womb: אנטונינוס and רבי
11. ProofWhy those three vegetables
12. ChallengeBut cucumbers are harmful
13. ResolutionLarge versus small cucumbers
14. StatementBack to the משנה: day of birth and day of death
15. Statementרבי מאיר: burning is not an idolatrous custom
16. StatementThe רבנן: burning is an idolatrous custom
17. ChallengeA ברייתא says Jews burn items for kings, so burning can't be idolatrous
18. ResolutionEveryone agrees burning is honor; the argument is about when idolaters celebrate
19. StatementThe ברייתא itself: burning for kings comes from a פסוק and also applies to נשיאים
20. StatementWhat is burned: the king's bed and personal items
21. StatementThe story of אונקלוס burning a fortune for רבן גמליאל
22. ChallengeDidn't you say only beds and personal items are burned?
23. ResolutionHe burned items worth seventy Tyrian maneh
24. ChallengeChallenge: animals' hooves are also cut for kings
25. Resolutionרב פפא: it means the horse the king rode
26. ChallengeChallenge: hooves of kosher animals are also cut