Avodah Zarah, Daf Mem Gimmel, Part 4

 

Introduction

Yesterday s section concluded by ruling that only God s four-faced attendants are prohibited. One may draw any other image. Today s section questions that.

 

ושאר שמשין מי שרי והתניא (שמות כ, כג) לא תעשון אתי לא תעשון כדמות שמשי המשמשין לפני במרום כגון אופנים ושרפים וחיות הקדש ומלאכי השרת

 

But are the other attendants permitted? Has it not been taught: You shall not make with Me you shall not make according to the likeness of My attendants who serve before Me in the heights, such as the Ophanim, Seraphim, the holy Hayyot and Ministering Angels!

 

According to this baraita, one may not make images of any of the various angels, not just the four-faced super ones.

 

אמר אביי לא אסרה תורה אלא שמשין שבמדור העליון

 

Abaye explained: The Torah prohibited only the the attendants who are in the highest stratum.

 

Abaye (again) answers that the Torah prohibited only the angels that are in the highest order, including those mentioned here. But not, evidently, the moon. Again, Rabban Gamaliel is defended.

 

ושבמדור התחתון מי שרי והתניא אשר בשמים לרבות חמה ולבנה כוכבים ומזלות ממעל לרבות מלאכי השרת

 

Are, then, those in the lower stratum permitted? Has it not been taught: That is in heaven, this is to include the sun, moon, stars and planets; above, this is to include the Ministering Angels!

 

This baraita quotes another section of the verse, and used it to prohibit making images of the sun, moon, stars and planets. This seems to refute Rabban Gamaliel.

 

כי תניא ההיא לעובדם

אי לעובדם אפילו שילשול קטן נמי

אין הכי נמי ומסיפיה דקרא נפקא דתניא אשר בארץ לרבות ימים ונהרות הרים וגבעות מתחת לרבות שילשול קטן

 

That teaching alludes to worshipping them.

But if it is a matter of worshipping them, even a tiny worm is also [prohibited]!

That is indeed so, and this is derived from the continuation of the verse; for it has been taught: Or that is in the earth, this is to include seas, rivers, mountains and hills; beneath, this is to include a tiny worm.

 

The Talmud resolves this by stating that this verse prohibits worshipping these heavenly and earthly images. One can make them, but not worship them.

 

ועשייה גרידתא מי שרי והתניא לא תעשון אתי לא תעשון כדמות שמשי המשמשין לפני במרום כגון חמה ולבנה כוכבים ומזלות שאני ר"ג דאחרים עשו לו

 

But is the mere making of them permitted? Has it not been taught: You shall not make with Me, you shall not make according to the likeness of My attendants who serve before Me in the heavens, the sun, moon, stars and planets!

It was different with R. Gamaliel because others made [the chart] for him.

 

This baraita clearly prohibits making the heavenly images, so again, we have to ask, how could Rabban Gamaliel have made images of the moon.

The Talmud responds with quite a strained answer, one that seems quite certainly to be making it up. Rabban Gamaliel did not make the images someone made them for him. He can use them, because he did not make them.