Avodah Zarah 46a

עבודה זרה מ״ו ע״א

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Topic

Insulting names for עבודה זרה, and when worshipped natural objects like mountains, plants and fallen stones become forbidden

Overview

This amud opens in the middle of a ברייתא. An earlier view on the previous amud read the פסוק 'ואבדתם את שמם' as a command to root out עבודה זרה. רבי עקיבא answers that rooting out is already taught by 'אבד תאבדון', so this פסוק teaches something new: give the idol a new name, and the ברייתא shows that name must be insulting. Next, a ברייתא recited before רב ששת rules that worshipped mountains stay permitted but worshipped plants are forbidden. רב ששת says it follows רבי יוסי בר יהודה. Then בני רבי חייא and רבי יוחנן disagree about worshipped stones that broke off a mountain. The lenient view is explained with a הצד השוה, since nothing made by people is involved, and the strict view with the פסוק 'שקץ תשקצנו'. The גמרא tries to prove from חזקיה's egg question which side בני רבי חייא hold, rejects the proof, and the egg question ends in תיקו. Finally רמי בר חמא asks whether a worshipped mountain's stones may be used for the מזבח.

Opening lines

The steps (34)

1. Challengeרבי עקיבא points out that the verse looks extra
2. StatementThe verse means: give the idol a new name
3. QuestionCould the new name be a nice one?
4. ChallengeThe גמרא rejects the idea of a praising name
5. ResolutionThe real question: maybe a neutral name is enough
6. ProofA verse shows the name must be insulting
7. QuestionHow is this done in practice?
8. ResponseExamples: twisting nice names into ugly ones
9. StatementWorshipped mountains are permitted but worshipped plants are forbidden
10. Resolutionרב ששת identifies the author of the ברייתא
11. ChallengeWhy not read the ברייתא so it fits the רבנן too?
12. ResolutionThe plants are compared to a mountain, so they were not planted for worship
13. StatementA disagreement about stones that came loose from a mountain
14. QuestionWhy would the loose stones be permitted?
15. ResponseThe stones are like the mountain because no person made them
16. ChallengeBut a mountain is attached to the ground
17. ResolutionAn animal proves that being attached is not the reason
18. ChallengeAn animal is different because it is alive
19. ResolutionA mountain proves being alive is not the reason
20. ProofBuilding a proof from what the mountain and animal share
21. ChallengeBoth cases are still in their natural state
22. ResolutionUse a blemished animal and a mountain instead
23. ProofAnother pair for the combined proof: an unblemished animal and a dried-up tree
24. QuestionWhy does the other opinion forbid the stones?
25. ResponseThe פסוק says not to permit it even when logic would
26. ProofTrying to show that בני רבי חייא are the ones who permit
27. ProofHow the egg question proves that בני רבי חייא permit
28. RejectionRejecting the proof by reading the egg case differently
29. ChallengeWhich opinion would have this doubt?
30. ResolutionThe real case: a גוי bowed to the egg
31. Proofשמואל's ruling about a brick
32. QuestionIs an egg like a brick?
33. ConclusionThe question is left unanswered
34. QuestionCan stones from a worshiped mountain be used for the altar?