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Avodah Zarah 50a

עבודה זרה נ׳ ע״א

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Topic

Stones near a מרקוליס: the argument between רבי ישמעאל and the רבנן, and whether מרקוליס stones reused for paving roads stay forbidden

Overview

The גמרא narrows the argument in the משנה about stones lying near a מרקוליס. Stones close enough that they may have fallen off are forbidden by everyone, and 'beside' in the משנה means within the pile's ארבע אמות, so the argument is about stones farther off but still inside that area. רבי ישמעאל forbids three stones because people sometimes build a small מרקוליס next to a big one. The רבנן disagree, so for them only whether the stones are seen with the pile matters. רבא answers two contradictions: he reads a ברייתא as 'stones that were found' instead of 'that fell', and he separates stones in one area from stones in two areas divided by a raised spot. He also explains that the three-stone shape (one, one, and one on top) is only needed for the main pile. Next comes the story of מרקוליס stones from King ינאי's ruined house that were used to pave roads. רבי יוחנן points to רבי מנחם ברבי סימאי, who walked on those roads. The גמרא then explains the two sides: the strict side treats the stones as an idol's offering, which can never be cancelled, and the lenient side says stones are not like offerings in the בית המקדש. The amud ends as a ברייתא about a גוי who paved roads with such stones begins, and its ruling comes on the next amud.

Opening lines

בִּמְקוֹרָבוֹת נָמֵי,

Also with nearby stones,

דְּאִיכָּא לְמֵימַר מִינֵּיהּ נְפַל —

where one can say they fell from it —

דִּבְרֵי הַכֹּל אֲסוּרוֹת,

everyone agrees they are forbidden.

כִּי פְּלִיגִי — בִּמְרוּחָקוֹת.

Where they argue is about distant stones.

The steps (20)

  1. StatementNearby stones are forbidden by everyone; the argument is about distant stones
  2. ChallengeBut the משנה says the stones are right beside the pile
  3. Resolution'Beside' means beside its ארבע אמות
  4. Statementרבי ישמעאל's reasoning: a small pile may be built next to a big one
  5. StatementThe רבנן's reasoning: no small pile is built next to a big one
  6. StatementQuoting the earlier rule: stones known to have fallen are forbidden by all
  7. ChallengeA ברייתא shows an argument even about stones that fell
  8. Resolutionרבא: read the ברייתא as 'found', not 'fell'
  9. ChallengeDoes רבי ישמעאל really permit two stones?
  10. ResolutionOne area versus two areas
  11. ChallengeCan stones side by side be a מרקוליס?
  12. ResolutionThe three-stone shape is only for the main pile
  13. StatementThe stones from King ינאי's ruined house
  14. Statementרבי יוחנן: A holy man walks on these roads, so why should we avoid them?
  15. QuestionWho is the 'son of holy ones'?
  16. ResponseIt is רבי מנחם ברבי סימאי, who would not even look at a coin's image
  17. QuestionWhy did some avoid the roads?
  18. ResponseAn offering to עבודה זרה can never become permitted
  19. ResponseWhy others did not avoid the roads: stones are not like Temple offerings
  20. StatementA ברייתא brought by רבה בר ירמיה about a גוי who paved roads with מרקוליס stones