Avodah Zarah, Daf Kaf Bet, Part 2

 

Introduction

This mishnah teaches that non-Jewish idol worshippers are suspected of several heinous sins: bestiality, sexual licentiousness and murder. This mishnah adopts a very harsh attitude towards the idolaters at the time. We should remind ourselves that according to later Jewish law, non-Jews who did not engage in such practices were not subject to these laws.

 

מתני׳ אין מעמידין בהמה בפונדקאות של עובדי כוכבים מפני שחשודין על הרביעה

 

One should not place animals in inns of non-Jews, because they are suspected of bestiality.

 

Non-Jewish idolaters are suspected of bestiality. Therefore Jews should not place animals in their inns. By doing so they would be encouraging the non-Jew to engage in bestiality, which according to Jewish ideology is also forbidden to non-Jews. It is one of the seven Noahide commandments which are incumbent upon non-Jews to observe.

 

ולא תתייחד אשה עמהן מפני שחשודין על העריות ולא יתייחד אדם עמהן מפני שחשודין על שפיכות דמים:

 

A woman should not be alone with them, because they are suspected of licentiousness;

Nor should a man be alone with them, because they are suspected of shedding blood.

 

Jewish women should not be alone with non-Jewish idolaters for they are suspected of being rapists. Jewish men should not be alone with non-Jewish idolaters for they are suspected of being murderers.