Avodah Zarah 63a

עבודה זרה ס״ג ע״א

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Topic

When does a payment to a זונה count as אתנן, and a challenge to רבי יוחנן's ruling about שביעית

Overview

The גמרא asks why a payment given to a זונה before the act does not become forbidden as אתנן once the act happens. רבי אליעזר answers that she offered it as a קרבן before the act. The גמרא shows this works only in a middle case: he left the animal with her until the act, but let her acquire it right away if she needed it. רב הושעיא then asks whether merely consecrating the animal before the act is enough, and the question ends in תיקו. Next, two ברייתות contradict each other about a payment given after the act. רב חסדא explains that a specific named lamb is אתנן even if given later, while an unspecified lamb is not. The גמרא solves the problem of missing משיכה in one of two ways: either she is a non-Jew, or the lamb stands in her חצר and was set up as an אפותיקי. Finally, רב ששת returns to רבי יוחנן's ruling about borrowing produce during שביעית and begins an objection from a ברייתא about workers given a דינר; the objection continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (16)

1. ChallengeShouldn't the payment become forbidden retroactively?
2. ResolutionShe already offered it before the act
3. QuestionIf he gave it to her outright, why teach it?
4. ChallengeIf she does not own it, she cannot offer it
5. ResponseA middle case: hers only if she needs it now
6. QuestionWhat if she only consecrated the animal before the act?
7. ProofTrying to answer from רבי אליעזר's exact wording
8. RejectionThe proof fails: רב הושעיא is asking about רבי אליעזר himself
9. ChallengeTwo ברייתות contradict about payment given after the act
10. ResolutionA specific lamb versus an unspecified lamb
11. ChallengeShe never acquired the specific lamb
12. ResolutionA non-Jewish woman does not need pulling
13. ResolutionOr a Jewish woman with the lamb in her courtyard
14. ChallengeThen she owned it before the act
15. ResolutionThe lamb was set aside as a pledge
16. Challengeרב ששת challenges from workers given a coin