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Avodah Zarah 20a

עבודה זרה כ׳ ע״א

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Topic

The three lessons of ״לֹא תְחׇנֵּם״ (no land, no praise, no free gifts), the מחלוקת about free gifts, and the limits on praising and gazing at a gentile woman.

Overview

The גמרא gives the source for not letting idolaters get a hold on land in ארץ ישראל: the פסוק ״לֹא תְחׇנֵּם״. Because of its unusual spelling, the פסוק teaches three things: no foothold in the land, no praise (חֵן), and no free gifts (מַתְּנַת חִנָּם). A ברייתא confirms all three readings. The גמרא then shows that the free-gift rule is a מחלוקת between רבי מאיר and רבי יהודה about giving or selling a נבלה to a גר or a גוי, and both sides read the word ״אוֹ״ in their own way. Next it returns to the ban on praise and links it to רב, who forbids saying "How beautiful is this גויה." Stories about רבן שמעון בן גמליאל and רבי עקיבא challenge רב. The גמרא answers that the words were thanks to ה׳, not praise of the woman. Finally, the גמרא asks how looking at her was allowed at all, and begins a ברייתא against gazing at women that continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

דְּאָמַר קְרָא: ״לֹא תְחׇנֵּם״,

For the verse says: "You shall not show them mercy (lo techonem)"

לֹא תִּתֵּן לָהֶם חֲנָיָיה בַּקַּרְקַע.

Do not give them a resting place in the land.

הַאי ״לָא תְחׇנֵּם״ מִיבְּעֵי לֵיהּ,

This "lo techonem" is needed

דְּהָכִי קָאָמַר רַחֲמָנָא:

because this is what the Merciful One is saying:

The steps (17)

  1. ProofThe source: do not give them a resting place in the land
  2. ChallengeIsn't the verse needed to forbid giving them praise?
  3. ResolutionThe spelling teaches both lessons
  4. ChallengeIsn't the verse also needed to forbid free gifts?
  5. ResolutionThe spelling teaches all three lessons
  6. ProofA ברייתא confirms all three readings
  7. StatementThe free-gift rule is a dispute between תנאים
  8. Statementרבי מאיר: both giving and selling to both people
  9. Statementרבי יהודה: read the words exactly as written
  10. Resolutionרבי יהודה explains the word ״אוֹ״
  11. ResolutionHow רבי מאיר uses ״אוֹ״: the גר comes first
  12. Resolutionרבי יהודה: priority needs no פסוק
  13. StatementA second reading: do not give them praise
  14. ProofThis reading supports רב
  15. ChallengeTwo great רבנים reacted to a gentile woman's beauty
  16. ResolutionHe was thanking ה׳, not praising her
  17. ChallengeWas it even allowed to look at her?