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Avodah Zarah 54b

עבודה זרה נ״ד ע״ב

Learn Avodah Zarah 54b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

How an act can forbid another's property or an exchange for עבודה זרה (including חליפי חליפין and שביעית), and why God does not destroy objects of idol worship

Overview

The amud opens by explaining how someone who slaughters another person's animal for עבודה זרה can forbid it, even though a person cannot forbid what is not his. The proof is the Temple כלים of אחז: because a real act of worship was done with them, they became forbidden. רבי יוחנן adds two cases where an act forbids things that bowing alone does not: digging pits in the ground, and trading animals for an idol. רבין then reports a מחלוקת about whether an exchange of an exchange (חליפי חליפין) is also forbidden. Each side explains its verse, and the debate turns on whether שני כתובין הבאין כאחד teach other cases, with שביעית as the example of status passing along a chain of purchases. A new משנה follows, telling how the elders in Rome explained why God does not destroy idols: the world needs the sun and moon, and He will not destroy His world because of fools. The גמרא adds that the world follows its normal course and sinners will be judged later. It ends with רבן גמליאל's parables answering a philosopher, and his supporting פסוק comes on the next amud.

Opening lines

וְאֶלָּא מִכֵּלִים,

But rather, from vessels,

דִּכְתִיב:

as it is written:

״וְאֶת כׇּל הַכֵּלִים

"And all the vessels

אֲשֶׁר הִזְנִיחַ הַמֶּלֶךְ אָחָז

which King Ahaz cast away

The steps (33)

  1. ProofA source from the Temple vessels of King Ahaz
  2. ChallengeBut a person cannot forbid what is not his
  3. ResolutionDoing an act on an item forbids it, so the animal is forbidden too
  4. StatementDigging in the ground for idol worship forbids it
  5. StatementTrading animals for an idol forbids them
  6. StatementIs an exchange of an exchange also forbidden?
  7. QuestionWhat is the source for forbidding a second exchange?
  8. ResponseAnything you get from the idol is like it
  9. ResponseThe other side: only 'it' is forbidden
  10. ResolutionThe strict side uses 'הוא' for ערלה and כלאי הכרם
  11. ResolutionNo verse needed: שני כתובין הבאין כאחד
  12. StatementThe two verses: עבודה זרה and שביעית
  13. ChallengeIf שביעית is like קודש, does the fruit lose its status?
  14. ResolutionThe word 'תִּהְיֶה' keeps the fruit forbidden
  15. StatementHow the שביעית status moves along a chain of purchases
  16. ResolutionThe strict side: two matching verses do teach, so 'הוא' is needed
  17. StatementWhy God does not wipe out עבודה זרה
  18. ChallengeThen let God destroy only the useless idols
  19. ResolutionDestroying some idols would make the others look real
  20. QuestionThe philosophers ask why God does not destroy idol worship
  21. ResponseThe world follows its course, and fools will be judged
  22. StatementStolen wheat still grows
  23. StatementA forbidden relationship can still produce a child
  24. Statementריש לקיש: sinners force God to finish their work
  25. QuestionA philosopher asks why God punishes the worshippers but not the idol
  26. Responseרבן גמליאל's parable of the king, his son and the dog
  27. ChallengeThe philosopher objects that the idol has real power
  28. Questionרבן גמליאל asks what he saw
  29. ProofThe philosopher's proof: the fire that spared the idol's temple
  30. RejectionA king fights the living, not the dead
  31. ChallengeThen why not destroy the idol?
  32. ResolutionGod won't destroy the world because of fools
  33. ProofIntroducing a supporting verse