Avodah Zarah 19b

עבודה זרה י״ט ע״ב

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Topic

Teachings on Torah learning from תהלים, wages for building idols, and a new משנה on idol jewelry and selling attached things to gentiles

Overview

This amud first finishes explaining the פסוקים of תהלים פרק א about the person who learns Torah. רבי תנחום בר חנילאי reads 'פלגי מים' as 'dividing' and says each day's learning should be split among מקרא, משנה, and תלמוד. רבא teaches that learning must lead to action. רב warns against ruling on הלכה too early and against refusing to rule once qualified, and the גמרא sets the usual age at forty. More teachings on the same פסוק follow: even the everyday talk of תלמידי חכמים is worth studying, and one who is busy with Torah succeeds, with proof from the תורה, נביאים, and כתובים. רבי אלכסנדרי then 'sells life' by teaching that one must guard one's tongue and also do good, which means learning Torah. The גמרא returns to the משנה: if a Jew built the dome where idols are placed, his wages are permitted, because an idol only becomes one at the final stroke and wages build up throughout the job. A new משנה forbids making jewelry for idols and selling attached things to gentiles, and the גמרא begins asking for the source, which continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (26)

1. ConclusionFinishing the earlier point: so the versions do not get mixed up
2. StatementDivide your learning into three parts
3. ChallengeNobody knows how long he will live
4. ResolutionThe division is done within each day
5. StatementLearning that bears fruit, and learning that does not
6. StatementTwo mistakes: ruling too early and refusing to rule
7. QuestionUntil what age is a student not ready to rule?
8. ResponseUntil forty years old
9. ChallengeBut רבא gave rulings before forty
10. Resolutionרבא was equal to the leading scholar
11. StatementEven the everyday talk of Torah scholars is worth studying
12. StatementOne who learns Torah succeeds with his property
13. ProofThe source in the תורה
14. ProofThe source in the נביאים
15. ProofThe source in the כתובים: back to our פסוק
16. StatementRabbi Alexandri sells 'life'
17. StatementAvoiding evil is not enough, you must also do good
18. Proof'Good' means תורה
19. StatementBack to the משנה: wages for building the dome
20. ChallengeWhy say it? The dome is only an accessory
21. ResolutionThe ruling is about building the idol itself
22. ChallengeWhat about the view that a gentile's idol is forbidden right away?
23. ResolutionThe ruling is needed only for the final hammer stroke
24. ConclusionWages build up from the start of the job to the end
25. StatementNew משנה: jewelry for idols and selling attached produce to gentiles
26. QuestionWhat is the source for not selling attached things?