Avodah Zarah, Daf Kaf Gimmel, Part 6
Introduction
The Talmud returns to why R. Eliezer does not allow one to buy a red heifer from a non-Jew. To recall, earlier we said that this was because of the word and you shall bring and not because he is suspicious of bestiality.
ורבי אליעזר לא חייש לרביעה
והתניא אמרו לו לר’ אליעזר מעשה ולקחוה מן העובד כוכבים ודמא שמו ואמרי לה רמץ שמו
אמר להן רבי אליעזר משם ראיה ישראל היו משמרין אותה משעה שנולדה
R. Eliezer is not then concerned about bestiality? Has it not been taught: They said to R. Eliezer: It happened that they bought [a red heifer] from a non-Jew named Dama or, as some say, named Remetz .
R. Eliezer replied: What does that prove? Israelites were watching the heifer from the hour of its birth?
R. Eliezer s response to the sages implies that he is concerned about bestiality. That s why they can buy the heifer if it had been guarded by Jews from the time of its birth.
רבי אליעזר תרתי אית ליה קיחה וחייש נמי לרביעה
R. Eliezer has two reasons [why the red heifer may not be bought from a non-Jew]: the word bought as well as the suspicion of bestiality.
In the end, R. Eliezer is suspicious of bestiality. But he also has another reason why the midrash on the word and you shall take as taught by Shila.