Introduction
Mishnah Sanhedrin 7:6 teaches that one who throws stones at a statue of Mercurius (the Roman god, Mercury) is guilty of worshipping the idol, for that is how Mercurius is typically worshipped. Our mishnah deals with the status of stones found next to the merculis statue.
מתני׳ רבי ישמעאל אומר שלש אבנים זו בצד זו בצד מרקוליס אסורות ושתים מותרות וחכ"א שנראות עמו אסורות ושאין נראות עמו מותרות:
Rabbi Ishmael says: if three stones are lying side by side next to a Merculis (=Mercurius), they are prohibited; if there are two they are permitted.
The sages say: if [the stones] are seen to be connected with it they are prohibited, but if they do not appear to be connected with it they are permitted.
According to Rabbi Ishmael, if three stones were found next to the Mercurius statue, we can assume that they were used in worshipping the statue, and they are therefore prohibited. If there were only two, then we cannot assume that they were placed there for such a purpose and they are permitted.
According to the Sages the issue is not the number of stones but rather their proximity to the statue. Those found next to the idol are prohibited and those found further away are permitted. Even if three are found further away, we can assume that they were not used in worship.
גמ׳ בשלמא רבנן קסברי עובדין לשברים נראות עמו דאיכא למימר מיניה נפל אסורות שאין נראות עמו מותרות
GEMARA. The opinion of the rabbis makes sense. They hold that [idolaters] worship the fragments [of idols], [therefore the stones] that are seen with it, we can assume that they fell from it and are prohibited, but if they are not seen with it they are permitted.
According to the Talmud, the rabbis hold that idolaters worship fragments of idols. So if pieces are found on the ground and they can be seen with the Mercurius idol, then they must come from the idol.
אלא ר’ ישמעאל מאי קסבר אי עובדין לשברין אפילו תרתי נמי ליתסר אי אין עובדין לשברים אפי’ תלת נמי לא
But what does R. Ishmael hold? If he holds that [idolaters] worship the fragments, then even two stones should be prohibited; and if he holds that they do not worship the fragments, then even three stones should not [be prohibited]!
If R. Ishmael also holds that idolaters worship fragments then why are two permitted? And if they don t worship fragments, then why should three be prohibited? In other words, it s hard to understand R. Ishmael in light of the issue of whether they worship fragments.
אמר רב יצחק בר יוסף א"ר יוחנן בידוע שנשרו ממנו דברי הכל אסורות ואפילו למ"ד אין עובדין לשברים ה"מ עבודת כוכבים דלאו היינו אורחיה אבל הכא דמעיקרא תבורי מיתברי היינו אורחיה
R. Yitzchak b. Joseph said in the name of R. Yohanan: If it is known that they fell from the idol, all agree that they are prohibited, and even according to the one who says that they do not worship fragments, this applies only to an idol for which this is not normal. But here [with the Mercurius, the stones are] from the outset detached and that is its normal form.
R. Yitzchak b. Joseph now offers a comprehensive interpretation of the dispute. If we know that these stones fell from the Mercurius idol, then R. Ishmael and the sages agree that they are prohibited. Even the one who holds that idolaters do not worship idols would agree in this case because Mercurius idols are made by a pile of rocks. This is not a broken piece. If it s from the Mercurius, then it is simply part of it.
כי פליגי בסתמא במקורבות נמי דאיכא למימר מיניה נפל ד"ה אסורות
They differ when we do not know [from where they fell]. But if the stones are close, we can still say that they fell from it and they are prohibited.
The dispute can also not be where the stones are close because we would have to assume that they fell from the Mercurius.
כי פליגי במרוחקות והא בצד מרקוליס קתני מאי בצד בצד ארבע אמות דידיה רבי ישמעאל סבר עושין מרקוליס קטן בצד מרקוליס גדול שלש דדמיין למרקוליס אסורות שתים מותרות
They dispute with respect to stones which are at a distance.
But the Mishnah says: next to a Mercurius!
What does it mean by next to ? Within four cubits of its side.
R. Ishmael holds that they make a small Mercurius by the side of a large Mercurius; three stones which together resemble a Mercurius are prohibited, two are permitted.
They differ with regard to stones found within four cubits of the Mercurius, but ones we do not know came from the larger idol.
If there are three together then R. Ishmael holds that this is a small Mercurius which people make near a big Mercurius and therefore they are prohibited. Two is nothing and therefore it is permitted.
רבנן סברי אין עושין מרקוליס קטן בצד מרקוליס גדול לא שנא שלש ולא שנא שתים נראות עמו אסורות שאין נראות עמו מותרות:
The rabbis hold that people do not make a small Mercurius by the side of a large Mercurius; so it does not matter whether there are three or two stones. If they are seen with it they are prohibited, otherwise they are permitted.
The rabbis do not perceive this to be a small Mercurius. So then all that matters is whether the stones are thought to have come from the Mercurius.