Avodah Zarah 51a

עבודה זרה נ״א ע״א

Learn Avodah Zarah 51a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Avodah Zarah 51a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

What counts as idol worship through Temple-like service (כעין פנים): splashing throws, the stones of מרקוליס, blemished animals, and slaughtering to an idol in an unusual way

Overview

The גמרא explains that an unusual act counts as idol worship when it resembles a service inside the בית המקדש (כעין פנים), such as a throw that splashes the way blood is sprinkled. That is why moist excrement counts. It suggests that רבי יהודה and חכמים argue about this in the case of slaughtering a locust, but rejects the suggestion: everyone requires כעין פנים, and a locust's neck is like an animal's. רב rules that breaking a stick before an idol makes the stick forbidden, while throwing it does not, because a stick does not scatter. This leads to a discussion of why the stones of מרקוליס are forbidden: each stone becomes part of the idol and an offering to the stone before it. רב נחמן allows taking the last stone if it can be identified, while רב אשי forbids even that one. The גמרא then explains a משנה that forbids grape branches found on מרקוליס, if they were picked for it. Next, רבי יוחנן exempts one who slaughters a blemished animal to an idol, which רבא limits to a מחוסר אבר, and the גמרא traces the sources for which animals entered נח's ark. Finally, רבי אלעזר derives that slaughtering to מרקוליס makes one liable, and the גמרא begins to challenge his source with a ברייתא that continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (35)

1. ChallengeHow does excrement count as 'throwing that scatters'?
2. ResolutionThe case is moist excrement
3. ProofSuggesting a מחלוקת תנאים: slaughtering a locust
4. ProofExplaining the locust dispute as כעין זביחה versus כעין פנים
5. RejectionEveryone requires כעין פנים; a locust's neck is different
6. StatementBreaking a stick versus throwing a stick before an idol
7. Challengeרבא asks why throwing is not like sprinkling the blood
8. ResolutionA real sprinkling has to scatter
9. ChallengeThen how do the stones of מרקוליס become forbidden?
10. ResolutionThe stones count as making the idol bigger
11. ChallengeA gentile's idol may need to be worshipped first
12. ResolutionEach stone is both part of the idol and an offering to the one before it
13. ChallengeThen at least the last stone should be permitted
14. ResolutionIf you can identify the last stone, take it
15. ResolutionEach stone is an offering to itself and to the one before it
16. StatementThe משנה about items found on top of the idol
17. ChallengeGrape branches and wreaths match no Temple service
18. ResolutionThe grapes were picked for the idol from the start
19. StatementSlaughtering a blemished animal to an idol is exempt
20. ChallengeWhich blemish is meant? Not a small eye blemish
21. ResolutionIt means an animal missing a limb, following רבי אלעזר
22. ChallengeIsn't this פסוק needed to exclude a טריפה?
23. Resolutionטריפה is learned from 'to keep seed alive'
24. ChallengeWhat about the view that a טריפה can give birth?
25. Resolution'With you' means animals similar to נח
26. ChallengeMaybe נח himself was a טריפה
27. ResolutionThe Torah calls נח 'תמים', whole
28. ChallengeMaybe 'תמים' describes his behavior
29. Resolution'צדיק' already covers his behavior
30. ChallengeMaybe 'תמים' is his ways and 'צדיק' is his deeds
31. Resolutionה׳ would not want only damaged animals saved
32. QuestionWhy do we need the words 'to keep seed alive'?
33. ResponseThe extra words rule out animals that cannot reproduce
34. StatementSlaughtering an animal to מרקוליס makes a person liable
35. ChallengeThat פסוק is needed for a different teaching