Avodah Zarah 62a

עבודה זרה ס״ב ע״א

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Topic

Why wages for work with יין נסך are a rabbinic קנס, and what the parallel קנס on donkey drivers carrying שביעית produce means.

Overview

The משנה rules that a Jew hired to work with יין נסך may not benefit from his wage. If he was hired for other work, his wage is permitted, even if he moved a barrel of יין נסך along the way. The same rule applies to renting out a donkey. The גמרא asks why the wage is forbidden, and two suggested reasons are knocked down: one from ערלה and כלאי הכרם, and one from שביעית. רבי אבהו in the name of רבי יוחנן explains that it is a קנס the חכמים made, and that a similar קנס applies to donkey drivers who carry שביעית produce, whose wage 'is שביעית'. The גמרא asks what that means. Paying them with שביעית produce seems like forbidden trading, and the idea that their money becomes holy is disproved by a ברייתא. אביי answers that they really are paid with שביעית produce, but it is handed over in a permitted way. He begins bringing a proof from a משנה in מעשר שני, which continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (15)

1. StatementHiring a worker for libation wine
2. StatementRenting a donkey to carry libation wine
3. QuestionWhy is the wage forbidden?
4. ChallengeChallenge from ערלה and כלאי הכרם
5. ResolutionSecond suggestion: it passes its status to its money
6. ChallengeChallenge from שביעית produce
7. ResolutionIt is a קנס from the חכמים
8. QuestionWhat is the donkey drivers' penalty?
9. ResponseDonkey drivers' wage is שביעית
10. QuestionWhat does 'their wage is שביעית' mean?
11. ChallengePaying with שביעית produce would be trading with it
12. ResolutionSecond reading: the wage money becomes holy
13. ChallengeA worker's plain wage does not become holy
14. Resolutionאביי: they are paid with produce, but in a permitted way
15. Proofאביי begins a proof from a משנה