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Avodah Zarah 23b

עבודה זרה כ״ג ע״ב

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Topic

Buying animals from gentiles for קרבנות, why רביעה disqualifies the פרה אדומה, and שילא's source for רבי אליעזר

Overview

Earlier, רבי פדת said that our משנה follows רבי אליעזר, and that the ברייתא allowing people to buy animals from gentiles for קרבנות follows the רבנן. The גמרא suggests that maybe the רבנן allow this only for an expensive פרה אדומה. It rejects that idea with two proofs: the ברייתא would then match no one, and the רבנן quoted a פסוק about all offerings. Next, the גמרא notes that everyone agrees a definite act of רביעה disqualifies the פרה. It tries to prove from this that the פרה is קדשי מזבח. That proof is rejected. First the גמרא suggests the פרה is special because the תורה calls it a חטאת, but that fails because of רבי שמעון's ruling on a יוצא דופן. The final answer is that a מום disqualifies the פרה, and 'corruption' (sexual sin and עבודה זרה) counts as a מום. Then the גמרא examines שילא's source for רבי אליעזר, 'the children of ישראל shall take.' It challenges that reading with רבי אליעזר's own story of buying stones for the אפוד from a gentile, and the story continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

אֶלָּא בְּפָרָה, דְּדָמֶיהָ יְקָרִין,

[the Rabbis disagree] only about the Red Heifer, since its price is high,

אֲבָל בִּשְׁאָר קׇרְבְּנוֹת מוֹדוּ לֵיהּ!

but about other offerings, they agree with him!

וְאֶלָּא הָא דְּתַנְיָא:

But then, that which was taught:

לוֹקְחִין מֵהֶן בְּהֵמָה לְקׇרְבָּן,

'One may buy an animal from them for an offering,'

The steps (15)

  1. ChallengeMaybe the רבנן only argued about the פרה אדומה
  2. RejectionThen whose view is the ברייתא about buying offerings?
  3. ProofAn explicit ברייתא: the רבנן answered with a פסוק about all offerings
  4. StatementThe argument is only about suspicion, not a certain case
  5. ProofAttempted proof: the פרה אדומה counts as consecrated for the altar
  6. RejectionThe פרה is special because the תורה calls it a חטאת
  7. ChallengeThen a caesarean-born heifer should also be disqualified
  8. ChallengeA ברייתא shows רבי שמעון allows a caesarean-born heifer
  9. Rejectionרבי שמעון's general view on caesarean births does not explain it
  10. ResolutionA blemish disqualifies the heifer, and sexual sin counts as a blemish
  11. ProofVerses showing that 'corruption' means sexual sin and idol worship
  12. ConclusionSexual sin and idol worship disqualify the פרה
  13. Statementשילא's reason for רבי אליעזר: only ישראל may supply the פרה
  14. ChallengeThe same words appear about the תרומה for the משכן
  15. Challengeרבי אליעזר's own story of buying stones for the אפוד from a גוי