Avodah Zarah, Daf Mem Heh, Part 3

 

Introduction

Today s section continues to deal with a tree that was first planted and only then worshipped. Is such a tree considered to be like an asherah and prohibited? Or is only a tree planted from the outset for idolatry to be prohibited?

 

ואף רבי יוסי בר’ יהודה סבר אילן שנטעו ולבסוף עבדו אסור דתניא רבי יוסי בר’ יהודה אומר מתוך שנאמר אלהיהם על ההרים ולא ההרים אלהיהם אלהיהם על הגבעות ולא גבעות אלהיהם שומע אני תחת כל עץ רענן אלהיהם ולא רענן אלהיהם ת"ל (דברים יב, ג) ואשריהם תשרפון באש

 

R. Yose son of R. Yehudah likewise holds that a tree which had been planted and was subsequently worshipped is prohibited; for it has been taught: R. Yose son of R. Yehudah says: Since it is stated, Their gods upon the high mountains, and not the mountains which are their gods, Their gods upon the hills, and not the hills which are their gods. I might have [similarly] thought, Their gods under every green tree, and not the green tree itself which is their god, Scripture therefore says, And burn their asherah-trees with fire (Deuteronomy 12:3).

 

In this midrash R. Yose son of R. Yehudah largely reiterates the midrash the Mishnah presented, but adds in that although the verse says under every green tree and we might have read this to say, and the tree cannot be their god, we do not read the verse this way because the Torah specifically says that their asherah trees must be burned.

The Talmud does not here explain how we know that this tree was first planted and only later worshipped. This will be explained in tomorrow s section.

 

אלא תחת כל עץ רענן ל"ל ההוא לכדר"ע הוא דאתא דאר"ע אני אובין ואדון לפניך כל מקום שאתה מוצא הר גבוה וגבעה נשאה ועץ רענן דע שיש שם עבודת כוכבים

 

Why, then, do I need under every green tree ? This is required in accordance with the teaching of R. Akiva; for R. Akiva said: let me expound and decide [the interpretation] before you: wherever you find a high mountain or elevated hill or green tree, know that an idolatrous object is there.

 

The verse under every green tree is needed for R. Akiva s derashah it tells us where idolatry can be found, but it does not outline the prohibition itself.