Study Avodah Zarah folio 51B with parallel Hebrew-English text, traditional commentary, and modern study tools. Free access to Babylonian Talmud online.
Text Excerpt
עד כאן הוא מדבר בקדשים שהקדישן בשעת איסור הבמות, והקריבן בשעת איסור הבמות,
The verse states: “Any man…that slaughters an ox…outside the camp, and to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting he did not bring it, to sacrifice an offering to YHWH” (Leviticus:17:3–4). Until this point, the verse is speaking about sacrificial animals that one consecrated during a period when the prohibition of sacrificing offerings on private altars was in effect, after the Tabernacle was erected, and then he also sacrificed them during a period when the prohibition of sacrificing on private altars was in effect.
שהרי עונשן אמור, שנאמר: ״ואל פתח אהל מועד לא הביאו וגו׳״. עונש שמענו, אזהרה מנין? תלמוד לומר: ״פן תעלה עלתיך״.
This is apparent as the punishment for sacrificing them is stated in this verse, as it is stated: “And to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting he did not bring it, to sacrifice an offering to YHWH, before the Tabernacle of YHWH…that man should be cut off from among his people” (Leviticus:17:4). We have heard from that verse the punishment, but with regard to the prohibition against sacrificing on a private altar, from where is it derived? The verse states: “Take heed to yourself lest you offer up your burnt-offerings in every place that you see” (Deuteronomy 12:13).
וכדרבי אבין אמר רבי אילא, דאמר רבי אבין אמר רבי אילא: כל מקום שנאמר ״השמר״ ו״פן״ ו״אל״ — אינו אלא בלא תעשה.
The Talmud comments: And this is in accordance with the principle that R' Avin says that R' Ile’a says, as R' Avin says that R' Ile’a says: Wherever it is stated: “Beware,” “lest,” or “do not,” this is nothing other than a prohibition.
מכאן ואילך הוא מדבר בקדשים שהקדישן בשעת היתר הבמות, והקריבן בשעת איסור הבמות.
The baraita continues: From that point onward, the verse is speaking about sacrificial animals that one consecrated during a period when there was permission to sacrifice offerings on private altars, before the Tabernacle was erected, and then one sacrificed them outside the Tabernacle during a period when the prohibition of sacrificing on private altars was in effect.