Gemara Clarity

Avodah Zarah 2a

עבודה זרה ב׳ ע״א

Learn Avodah Zarah 2a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Avodah Zarah 2a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

The ban on dealings before gentile festivals, the spelling of אידיהן/עידיהן and its sources, and the opening of the aggadah about the nations at the end of days

Overview

The משנה forbids business and money dealings with גוים for three days before their festivals, because a good deal may lead the גוי to thank his עבודה זרה. רבי יהודה allows collecting a debt from them, since paying hurts the גוי. The חכמים answer that he is relieved afterward. The גמרא reports that רב ושמואל read the משנה's word for 'their festivals' differently: אידיהן with an א (calamity) or עידיהן with an ע (witnesses). Each reading has a פסוק to back it up, and each side explains why its word is better. The גמרא then challenges the פסוק used for the ע reading, since רבי יהושע בן לוי reads it as being about ישראל. רב הונא בריה דרב יהושע brings a different פסוק, where the idols themselves are the witnesses. Finally, an aggadah begins about the future: הקב״ה invites those who studied Torah to take their reward, and the nations rush in. The story continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

מַתְנִי׳

MISHNA:

לִפְנַי אֵידֵיהֶן שֶׁל גּוֹיִם שְׁלֹשָׁה יָמִים

Three days before the festivals of gentiles

אָסוּר לָשֵׂאת וְלָתֵת עִמָּהֶם

it is forbidden to do business with them

לְהַשְׁאִילָן וְלִשְׁאוֹל מֵהֶן

to lend items to them and to borrow items from them

The steps (14)

  1. StatementThe משנה's basic ban before gentile festivals
  2. Statementרבי יהודה allows collecting debts
  3. RejectionThe Sages answer: he is happy later
  4. Statementרב and שמואל read the משנה's word differently
  5. StatementNeither reading is a mistake
  6. ProofA verse supports each reading
  7. QuestionWhy doesn't the א reader use the ע reading?
  8. ResponseCalamity is the better word
  9. QuestionWhy doesn't the ע reader use the א reading?
  10. ResponseTestimony is better, because it causes the calamity
  11. ChallengeThe witnesses verse is about Israel, not the nations
  12. ResolutionA new verse: idols are witnesses against their makers
  13. StatementIn the future, ה׳ calls Torah learners to take their reward
  14. StatementThe nations rush in mixed together and are told to enter one by one