Study Avodah Zarah folio 50A with parallel Hebrew-English text, traditional commentary, and modern study tools. Free access to Babylonian Talmud online.
במקורבות נמי, דאיכא למימר מיניה נפל — דברי הכל אסורות, כי פליגי — במרוחקות.
Furthermore, everyone agrees that also in the case of stones that are near the stone pile dedicated to Mercury, with regard to which it can be said that they fell from it, they are prohibited. R' Yishmael and the Rabbis disagree only when the stones are distant.
והא ״בצד מרקוליס״ קתני, מאי ״בצד״? בצד ארבע אמות דידיה.
The Talmud challenges: But the Mishnah teaches that the stones are at the side of Mercury, indicating that they are nearby. The Talmud explains: What is meant by the term: At the side of Mercury? It means at the side of its 4 cubits.
רבי ישמעאל סבר: עושין מרקוליס קטן בצד מרקוליס גדול, שלש דדמיין למרקוליס — אסורות, שתים — מותרות. רבנן סברי: אין עושין מרקוליס קטן בצד מרקוליס גדול, לא שנא שלש ולא שנא שתים, נראות עמו — אסורות, שאין נראות עמו — מותרות.
The Talmud clarifies the dispute: R' Yishmael holds that at times, idol worshippers initially construct a small stone pile dedicated to Mercury at the side of a large stone pile dedicated to Mercury. Therefore, 3 stones, which resemble a complete pile dedicated to Mercury, are prohibited. Two stones, which do not resemble a stone pile dedicated to Mercury, are permitted. Conversely, the Rabbis hold that idol worshippers do not construct a small stone pile dedicated to Mercury at the side of a large stone pile dedicated to Mercury. Therefore, the halakha is not different in a case where there are 3 stones, and it is not different in a case where there are two stones. In both cases those stones that can be seen together with the pile dedicated to Mercury are prohibited, as they may have fallen from it, whereas those that cannot be seen together with the stone pile are permitted.
אמר מר: בידוע שנשרו ממנו — דברי הכל אסורות. ורמינהי: אבנים שנשרו מן המרקוליס, נראות עמו — אסורות, שאין נראות עמו — מותרות. ורבי ישמעאל אומר: שלש — אסורות, שתים — מותרות. אמר רבא: לא תימא ״שנשרו״, אלא אימא ״שנמצאו״.
§ The Master said: In a case where it is known that these stones fell from it, everyone agrees that they are prohibited. And the Talmud raises a contradiction to R' Yoḥanan’s statement from his statement presented in a baraita: With regard to stones that fell from a pile dedicated to Mercury, those that can be seen together with it are prohibited; those that cannot be seen together with it are permitted. And R' Yishmael says: 3 stones are prohibited, but two stones are permitted. The baraita indicates that R' Yishmael and the Rabbis also disagree where it is known that the stones fell from the stone pile. Rava said: Do not say in the baraita: Stones that fell from a pile. Rather, say: Stones that were found adjacent to the pile. There is no certainty that they fell from the pile.
Text data via Sefaria: William Davidson Edition - English and William Davidson Edition - Vocalized Aramaic, CC-BY-NC; edition provenance: Koren. Display terminology has been modernized for readability.