## Avodah Zarah Daf 24a

###### Avodah Zarah 24a:1
[Avodah Zarah 24a:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/24a:1)

בְּשִׁשִּׁים רִבּוֹא שָׂכָר, רַב כָּהֲנָא מַתְנֵי בִּשְׁמוֹנִים רִבּוֹא, וְהָיוּ מַפְתְּחוֹת מוּנָּחוֹת תַּחַת מְרַאֲשׁוֹתָיו שֶׁל אָבִיו, וְלֹא צַּעֲרוֹ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**for six hundred thousand** gold dinars’ **profit,** and **Rav Kahana teaches** that it was **eight hundred thousand** dinars’ profit. **But the keys** to the chest holding the jewels **were placed under his father’s head, and he would not disturb him.** It is evident from this story that the stones of the ephod may be purchased from gentiles. If so, Rabbi Eliezer’s reasoning cannot be based on Numbers 19:2, as an identical phrase appears in Exodus 25:2, and yet contributions to the Tabernacle may be accepted from gentiles.


###### Avodah Zarah 24a:2
[Avodah Zarah 24a:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/24a:2)

״אַבְנֵי שֹׁהַם״ הִפְסִיק הָעִנְיָן, וְהָא ״וְאַבְנֵי מִלּוּאִים״ כְּתִיב, דַּהֲדַר עָרְבֵיהּ!

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara answers that the phrase **“onyx stones”** (Exodus 25:7) **concluded** discussion of that **matter.** In other words, almost all the items listed in Exodus, chapter 25, for the contributions to the Tabernacle, are joined by the conjunction “and.” Before the verse mentions the stones for the ephod, it states “onyx stones,” without the conjunction “and.” This omission serves to disconnect these stones from the earlier phrase: “That they take” (Exodus 25:2), which means that the disqualification of items purchased from gentiles for use in the Temple derived from this phrase does not apply to the items listed after that point, including the stones of the ephod. The Gemara asks: **But isn’t it** subsequently **written: “And stones to be set,”** by **which the verse goes back and combines** the list, so that the earlier verse applies once more? Accordingly, it should be prohibited to purchase any of the items listed in the verse from gentiles.


###### Avodah Zarah 24a:3
[Avodah Zarah 24a:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/24a:3)

וְעוֹד, קָתָנֵי סֵיפָא: לְשָׁנָה אַחֶרֶת נוֹלְדָה לוֹ פָּרָה אֲדוּמָּה בְּעֶדְרוֹ, נִכְנְסוּ חַכְמֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶצְלוֹ. אָמַר לָהֶם: יוֹדֵעַ אֲנִי בָּכֶם שֶׁאִם אֲנִי מְבַקֵּשׁ מִכֶּם כׇּל מָמוֹן שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם אַתֶּם נוֹתְנִין לִי, עַכְשָׁיו אֵינִי מְבַקֵּשׁ מִכֶּם אֶלָּא אוֹתוֹ מָמוֹן שֶׁהִפְסַדְתִּי בִּשְׁבִיל אַבָּא.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara adds: **And furthermore, the latter clause teaches: In a subsequent year, a red heifer was born in** Dama’s **herd** and **the Sages of Israel approached him,** seeking to purchase the heifer. Dama **said to them: I know concerning you that if I** were to **ask from you all the money in the world, you would give** it **to me. Now I am requesting from you only that** amount of **money which I lost by** refraining from waking **my father.** This latter clause explicitly states that the Sages intended to purchase a red heifer from a gentile, which contradicts the ruling of Rabbi Eliezer.


###### Avodah Zarah 24a:4
[Avodah Zarah 24a:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/24a:4)

הָתָם, עַל יְדֵי תַּגָּרֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל זְבוּן.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara answers: **There,** it was **through** the agency of **Jewish merchants** that **they purchased** the heifer. In other words, Jewish merchants purchased the heifer from Dama ben Netina, after which the Sages acquired the animal from the merchants to be used as a red heifer of purification. In this manner, the animal was purchased for the purpose of an offering from Jews.


###### Avodah Zarah 24a:5
[Avodah Zarah 24a:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/24a:5)

וְרַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר לָא חָיֵישׁ לִרְבִיעָה?

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
According to Sheila, Rabbi Eliezer’s reason for not allowing a red heifer to be purchased from gentiles is based on a derivation from a verse rather than a concern that a person may have engaged in bestiality with it. The Gemara therefore asks: **And is Rabbi Eliezer not concerned about** the possibility that a person has engaged in **bestiality** with the animal?


###### Avodah Zarah 24a:6
[Avodah Zarah 24a:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/24a:6)

וְהָתַנְיָא, אָמְרוּ לוֹ לְרַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר: מַעֲשֶׂה וּלְקָחוּהָ מִן הַגּוֹי, וְדָמָא שְׁמוֹ, וְאָמְרִי לַהּ רֶמֶץ שְׁמוֹ. אָמַר לָהֶן רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר: מִשָּׁם רְאָיָה? יִשְׂרָאֵל הָיוּ מְשַׁמְּרִין אוֹתָהּ מִשָּׁעָה שֶׁנּוֹלְדָה! רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר תַּרְתֵּי אִית לֵיהּ: קִיחָה, וְחָיֵישׁ נָמֵי לִרְבִיעָה.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara elaborates: **But isn’t it taught** in a *baraita* that the Rabbis who hold that the heifer may be purchased from a gentile **said to Rabbi Eliezer:** There was **an incident** in which Jews **purchased** the red heifer **from a gentile, and Dama was his name. And some say Remetz was his name.** In response to this claim, **Rabbi Eliezer said to them:** Can one bring **a proof from there?** Certainly not, as **Jews were safeguarding it from the time that it was born,** to ensure that a person did not engage in bestiality with it. Contrary to the opinion of Sheila, it is evident from here that Rabbi Eliezer was concerned about this possibility. The Gemara explains that **Rabbi Eliezer has two** requirements: The **purchase** of the red heifer must be from a Jew, **and he is also concerned about** the possibility that a person had engaged in **bestiality** with the animal.


###### Avodah Zarah 24a:7
[Avodah Zarah 24a:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/24a:7)

אָמַר מָר: יִשְׂרָאֵל הָיוּ מְשַׁמְּרִין אוֹתָהּ מִשָּׁעָה שֶׁנּוֹלְדָה. וְנֵיחוּשׁ דִּלְמָא רָבְעִי לְאִמַּהּ כִּי הֲוָה מְעַבְּרָה! דְּאָמַר רָבָא: וְולַד הַנּוֹגַחַת אֲסוּרָה — הִיא וּוְלָדָהּ נָגְחוּ, וְולַד הַנִּרְבַּעַת אֲסוּרָה — הִיא וּוְלָדָהּ נִרְבְּעוּ. אֵימָא: יִשְׂרָאֵל הָיוּ מְשַׁמְּרִין אוֹתָהּ מִשָּׁעָה שֶׁנּוֹצְרָה.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara analyzes Rabbi Eliezer’s statement. **The Master said: Jews were safeguarding** the red heifer purchased from Dama ben Netina **from the time that it was born.** The Gemara asks: **And let us be concerned** that **perhaps** gentiles **engaged in bestiality with the mother while she was pregnant, as Rava says: The offspring of** an animal that **gored** and killed a Jew **is forbidden** as an offering, as it is considered as if **she and her offspring** together **gored.** And similarly, **the offspring of** an animal that was the object of **bestiality is forbidden** because it is considered as if a person **engaged in bestiality** with both **her and her offspring.** The Gemara answers: **Say** that Rabbi Eliezer meant that **Jews were safeguarding it from the time that it was conceived.**


###### Avodah Zarah 24a:8
[Avodah Zarah 24a:8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/24a:8)

וְנֵיחוּשׁ דִּלְמָא רַבְעוּהָ לְאִמַּהּ מֵעִיקָּרָא! דִּתְנַן: כׇּל הַפְּסוּלִין לְגַבֵּי מִזְבֵּחַ — וַלְדוֹתֵיהֶן מוּתָּרִין, וְתָנֵי עֲלַהּ: רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר אוֹסֵר.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara asks: **And let us be concerned** that **perhaps they engaged in bestiality with the mother from the outset,** i.e., before conception, **as we learned** in a mishna (*Temura* 30b): With regard to **all** animals **that are disqualified for the altar,** such as one that was the object of bestiality, sacrifice of **their offspring is permitted; and it is taught with regard to** this case that **Rabbi Eliezer prohibits** their offspring from being sacrificed on the altar. If this is the case, Rabbi Eliezer should agree that there is a concern that a person might have engaged in bestiality with the heifer’s mother at some point before its birth.


###### Avodah Zarah 24a:9
[Avodah Zarah 24a:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/24a:9)

הָנִיחָא לְרָבָא, דְּאָמַר רָבָא אָמַר רַב נַחְמָן: מַחְלוֹקֶת כְּשֶׁנִּרְבְּעוּ כְּשֶׁהֵן מוּקְדָּשִׁין, אֲבָל כְּשֶׁהֵן חוּלִּין — דִּבְרֵי הַכֹּל מוּתָּרִין.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara clarifies the difficulty: Granted, **this works out well according to** the opinion of **Rava, as Rava says** that **Rav Naḥman says:** The **dispute** between the Rabbis and Rabbi Eliezer applies only **when** a person **engaged in bestiality** with the animals **when they were consecrated** and then they conceived, as Rabbi Eliezer holds that in that case the offspring are disqualified from being sacrificed as offerings; **but** if someone engaged in bestiality with the animals **when they were non-sacred, everyone agrees** that the offspring **are permitted.** Accordingly, it needs to be ascertained only that no one engaged in bestiality with the mother after she was consecrated.


###### Avodah Zarah 24a:10
[Avodah Zarah 24a:10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/24a:10)

אֶלָּא לְרַב הוּנָא בַּר חִינָּנָא אָמַר רַב נַחְמָן: מַחְלוֹקֶת כְּשֶׁנִּרְבְּעוּ כְּשֶׁהֵן חוּלִּין, אֲבָל כְּשֶׁהֵן מוּקְדָּשִׁין — דִּבְרֵי הַכֹּל אֲסוּרִין, מַאי אִיכָּא לְמֵימַר?

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**But according to** the opinion of **Rav Huna bar Ḥinnana,** who says that **Rav Naḥman says:** The **dispute** applies only **when** a person **engaged in bestiality** with the animals **when they were non-sacred, but** if someone engaged in bestiality with them **when they were consecrated, everyone agrees** that the offspring **are forbidden, what is there to say?** According to this opinion, Rabbi Eliezer should be concerned that a person might have engaged in bestiality with the animal prior to conception.


###### Avodah Zarah 24a:11
[Avodah Zarah 24a:11](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/24a:11)

אֵימָא: יִשְׂרָאֵל הָיוּ מְשַׁמְּרִין אוֹתָהּ לְאִמָּהּ מִשָּׁעָה שֶׁנּוֹצְרָה. וְנֵיחוּשׁ דִּילְמָא רַבְעוּהָ לְאִמָּא דְּאִמַּהּ! כּוּלֵּי הַאי לָא חָיְישִׁינַן.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara answers: **Say** that **Jews were safeguarding it** as well, i.e., **the mother** of the red heifer, **from the time that it was conceived.** The Gemara challenges: **And let us be concerned** that **perhaps** someone **engaged in bestiality with the mother of the** heifer’s **mother.** The Gemara responds: **We are not concerned** to **such an extent.**


###### Avodah Zarah 24a:12
[Avodah Zarah 24a:12](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/24a:12)

אָמַר מָר: יִשְׂרָאֵל הָיוּ מְשַׁמְּרִין אוֹתָהּ מִשָּׁעָה שֶׁנּוֹצְרָה. מְנָא יָדְעִינַן? אָמַר רַב כָּהֲנָא: כּוֹס אָדוֹם מַעֲבִירִין לְפָנֶיהָ בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁעוֹלֶה עָלֶיהָ זָכָר.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara discusses the revised version of Rabbi Eliezer’s statement. **The Master said** above: **Jews were safeguarding** the red heifer **from the time that it was conceived.** The Gemara asks: **From where do we know** that the mother would give birth to a red heifer, which would warrant safeguarding her? **Rav Kahana says: They would pass a red cup before her while the male mounts her,** an act that would cause the offspring to be red.


###### Avodah Zarah 24a:13
[Avodah Zarah 24a:13](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/24a:13)

אִי הָכִי, אַמַּאי דָּמֶיהָ יְקָרִין? הוֹאִיל וּשְׁתֵּי שְׂעָרוֹת פּוֹסְלוֹת בָּהּ. וּמַאי שְׁנָא דִּידְהוּ? אָמַר רַב כָּהֲנָא: בְּמוּחְזֶקֶת.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara asks: **If that is so,** and the birth of a red heifer can be induced in such a simple manner, **why is its price so expensive?** The Gemara answers: **Since two hairs** of a different color **render** the red heifer **unfit,** this method is unreliable. The Gemara asks another question: **And what is different** about **these** cows? Why did the Jews resort to purchasing the red heifer from a gentile when they could have induced its conception themselves? **Rav Kahana said:** Dama ben Netina owned a herd of cattle that **were known** to beget red heifers, and therefore they preferred to employ the aforementioned method with one of his cows.


###### Avodah Zarah 24a:14
[Avodah Zarah 24a:14](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/24a:14)

יָתֵיב רַבִּי אַמֵּי וְרַבִּי יִצְחָק נַפָּחָא אַקִּלְעָא דְּרַבִּי יִצְחָק נַפָּחָא, פְּתַח חַד מִינַּיְיהוּ וַאֲמַר: וְכֵן הָיָה רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר פּוֹסֵל בְּכׇל הַקָּרְבָּנוֹת כּוּלָּן.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
§ The Gemara relates: **Rabbi Ami and Rabbi Yitzḥak Nappaḥa were sitting on Rabbi Yitzḥak Nappaḥa’s porch. One of them began and said** that the *baraita* teaches: **And, similarly, Rabbi Eliezer would disqualify all offerings** purchased from gentiles, due to the concern that a person had engaged in bestiality with the animals.


###### Avodah Zarah 24a:15
[Avodah Zarah 24a:15](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/24a:15)

פְּתַח אִידַּךְ מִינַּיְיהוּ וְאָמַר: מַאי אוֹתִיבוּ לֵיהּ חַבְרוֹהִי לְרַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר? ״כׇּל צֹאן קֵדָר יִקָּבְצוּ לָךְ וְגוֹ׳״! אָמַר לָהֶן רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר: כּוּלָּם גֵּרִים גְּרוּרִים הֵם לֶעָתִיד לָבֹא.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**The other** one **of them began and said: What did Rabbi Eliezer’s colleagues respond to him?** They quoted the verse: **“All flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together unto you,** the rams of Nebaioth shall minister unto you; they shall come up with acceptance upon My altar” (Isaiah 60:7). This verse clearly indicates that offerings will be accepted from gentiles. **Rabbi Eliezer said to them: In the future all** gentiles will **be calculating converts,** i.e., those who converted for personal gain, and as converts, they will not be suspected of engaging in bestiality.


###### Avodah Zarah 24a:16
[Avodah Zarah 24a:16](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/24a:16)

אָמַר רַב יוֹסֵף: מַאי קְרָא? ״כִּי אָז אֶהְפֹּךְ אֶל עַמִּים שָׂפָה בְרוּרָה וְגוֹ׳״. אֲמַר לֵיהּ אַבָּיֵי: וְדִלְמָא מֵעֲבוֹדָה זָרָה הוּא דַּהֲדוּר בְּהוּ? אֲמַר לֵיהּ רַב יוֹסֵף: ״לְעׇבְדוֹ שְׁכֶם אֶחָד״ כְּתִיב.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rav Yosef said: What is the verse** from which it is derived that they will convert? The verse states: **“For then will I turn to the peoples a pure language,** that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve Him with one consent” (Zephaniah 3:9). This verse indicates that all nations will worship God. **Abaye said to him: But perhaps it is** only **from idol worship that they** will **withdraw,** while they will still engage in forbidden sexual relations, including bestiality? **Rav Yosef said to him:** That cannot be, as **it is written** at the conclusion of the verse: **“To serve Him with one consent,”** which indicates that the gentiles will accept all of God’s mitzvot.


###### Avodah Zarah 24a:17
[Avodah Zarah 24a:17](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/24a:17)

רַב פָּפָּא מַתְנֵי הָכִי, וְרַב זְבִיד מַתְנֵי הָכִי, וְתַרְוַיְיהוּ אָמְרִי: וְכֵן הָיָה רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר פּוֹסֵל בְּכׇל הַקָּרְבָּנוֹת, וְתַרְוַיְיהוּ אָמְרִי: וּמַאי אוֹתִיבוּ לֵיהּ חַבְרוֹהִי לְרַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר? ״כׇּל צֹאן קֵדָר יִקָּבְצוּ לָךְ וְגוֹ׳״, אָמַר רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר: כּוּלָּם גֵּרִים גְּרוּרִים הֵם לֶעָתִיד לָבֹא.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara comments: **Rav Pappa teaches** that discussion in **this** manner, **but Rav Zevid teaches** it in **this** manner: **Both** Rabbi Ami and Rabbi Yitzḥak Nappaḥa **said: And similarly, Rabbi Eliezer would disqualify all offerings** taken from gentiles. **And both said: What did Rabbi Eliezer’s colleagues respond to him?** They quoted the verse: **“All flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together unto you,** the rams of Nebaioth shall minister unto you; they shall come up with acceptance upon My altar.” **Rabbi Eliezer said** to them: **All** gentiles **will be calculating converts in the future.**


###### Avodah Zarah 24a:18
[Avodah Zarah 24a:18](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/24a:18)

וּמַאי קְרָאָה? ״כִּי אָז אֶהְפֹּךְ אֶל עַמִּים שָׂפָה בְרוּרָה לִקְרֹא כֻלָּם בְּשֵׁם ה׳״. מַתְקֵיף לַהּ רַב יוֹסֵף: וְדִלְמָא מֵעֲבוֹדָה זָרָה הוּא דְּהָדְרִי בְּהוּ? אֲמַר לֵיהּ אַבָּיֵי: ״לְעׇבְדוֹ שְׁכֶם אֶחָד״ כְּתִיב.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
Rabbi Eliezer continues: **And what is the verse** from which it is derived that they will convert? It is from the verse: **“For then will I turn to the peoples a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord,** to serve him with one consent.” **Rav Yosef objects to this** proof: **But perhaps it is** only **from idol worship that they** will **withdraw? Abaye said to him:** That cannot be, as **it is written: “To serve Him with one consent.”**


###### Avodah Zarah 24a:19
[Avodah Zarah 24a:19](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/24a:19)

מֵיתִיבִי: ״וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה גַּם אַתָּה תִּתֵּן בְּיָדֵנוּ זְבָחִים וְעֹלֹת״! קוֹדֶם מַתַּן תּוֹרָה שָׁאנֵי.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
§ The Gemara cites a series of verses which present difficulties with regard to the claim that animals purchased from gentiles may not be used as offerings. The Gemara **raises an objection** from the following verse: **“And Moses said: You must also give into our hand offerings and burnt-offerings** that we may sacrifice unto the Lord our God” (Exodus 10:25). Moses demanded that Pharaoh provide the Jews with offerings, despite the fact that he was a gentile. The Gemara explains: The *halakha* **prior to the giving of the Torah** was **different,** as at that time it was acceptable to use animals taken from gentiles as offerings.


###### Avodah Zarah 24a:20
[Avodah Zarah 24a:20](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Avodah%20Zarah/r/24a:20)

תָּא שְׁמַע: ״וַיִּקַּח יִתְרוֹ חֹתֵן מֹשֶׁה עֹלָה וּזְבָחִים לֵאלֹהִים״! יִתְרוֹ נָמֵי קוֹדֶם מַתַּן תּוֹרָה הֲוָה. הָנִיחָא לְמַאן דְּאָמַר: יִתְרוֹ קוֹדֶם מַתַּן תּוֹרָה הֲוָה, אֶלָּא לְמַאן דְּאָמַר:

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara raises another objection: **Come** and **hear** a proof from the verse: **“And Yitro, Moses’ father-in-law, took a burnt-offering and offerings for God”** (Exodus 18:12). Yitro was not a Jew, and yet he brought offerings for God. The Gemara answers: The incident with **Yitro was also prior to the giving of the Torah.** The Gemara observes: Granted, **this works out well according to the one who says** that the incident with **Yitro was prior to the giving of the Torah. But according to the one who says** that