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Avodah Zarah 44a

עבודה זרה מ״ד ע״א

Learn Avodah Zarah 44a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Destroying idols: רבי יוסי's proofs and the חכמים's rejections, איתי הגתי's nullifying, and דוד's crown as a sign of true kingship

Overview

The משנה taught that רבי יוסי allows destroying an idol by grinding it up and scattering it. The חכמים worry that the dust could fertilize the ground, which would be forbidden benefit from עבודה זרה. In the ברייתא, רבי יוסי brings four proofs from פסוקים: משה grinding the עגל, אסא burning מעכה's idol at נחל קדרון, חזקיהו crushing the copper snake, and דוד dealing with the פלשתים's idols. The חכמים reject each one. משה was testing the people like a סוטה, נחל קדרון is barren in that spot, the snake was משה's property so it was never forbidden, and דוד's idols were really burned. Two פסוקים about דוד's idols seem to contradict each other, one saying burned and one saying carried away. רב הונא explains that they describe the time before and after איתי הגתי nullified the idols, and the same nullifying explains how דוד could take the crown of מלכם. The גמרא then discusses that crown: how such a heavy crown could sit on his head, and how it fit him as a sign that he was fit to be king. It ends with אדוניה, whom the crown did not fit, and his specially altered runners.

Opening lines

אֲשֶׁר עֲשִׂיתֶם אֶת הָעֵגֶל

that you made, the calf

לָקַחְתִּי וָאֶשְׂרֹף אֹתוֹ בָּאֵשׁ

I took, and I burned it in fire

וָאֶכֹּת אֹתוֹ טָחוֹן הֵיטֵב

and I crushed it, grinding it well

עַד אֲשֶׁר דַּק לְעָפָר

until it was fine as dust

The steps (35)

  1. ProofProof from how משה destroyed the golden calf
  2. RejectionRejection: משה was testing the people like a סוטה
  3. ProofSecond proof: אסא burned his mother's idol at נחל קדרון
  4. RejectionRejection: נחל קדרון grows nothing
  5. ChallengeChallenge: the מקדש blood was sold as fertilizer at קדרון
  6. ResolutionAnswer: קדרון has fertile spots and barren spots
  7. QuestionWhat does the word מִפְלַצְתָּהּ mean?
  8. ResponseAn idol that increased immorality
  9. ProofA new proof: חזקיהו crushed משה's copper snake
  10. RejectionThe snake belonged to משה, so it was never forbidden
  11. ResolutionWhy חזקיהו crushed it anyway
  12. Proofרבי יוסי brings the פסוק about דוד and the פלשתים's idols
  13. QuestionHow do we know the word means scattering?
  14. Responseרב יוסף's translation shows the word means scattering
  15. RejectionThe חכמים show the idols were burned, so the word just means carried
  16. ChallengeStill, the two verses contradict each other
  17. ResolutionThe answer follows רב הונא, who raised this same contradiction
  18. ResolutionBefore and after איתי arrived
  19. ChallengeHow could דוד use the idol's crown?
  20. Resolutionאיתי nullified the crown
  21. QuestionHow could דוד wear such a heavy crown?
  22. ResponseIt was fit for דוד's head
  23. ResponseA magnet held it up
  24. ResponseIt was worth a talent of gold
  25. QuestionWhat does 'This I have had' mean?
  26. ResponseThe crown was a testimony
  27. QuestionWhat was the testimony?
  28. ResponseIt fit exactly where תפילין go
  29. ChallengeBut he had to wear תפילין there
  30. ResolutionThere is room for two תפילין
  31. StatementThe פסוק about יואש: crown and testimony
  32. StatementThe crown fits only someone fit to be king
  33. Statementאדוניה tried to make the crown fit him
  34. QuestionWhat was special about אדוניה's runners?
  35. ResponseThe runners were specially altered to run fast