Avodah Zarah, Daf Nun Daled, Part 5

 

Introduction

Today s sugya has some variant versions of the mishnah.

 

גמ׳ ת"ר שאלו פלוסופין את הזקנים ברומי אם אלהיכם אין רצונו בעבודת כוכבים מפני מה אינו מבטלה. אמרו להם אילו לדבר שאין העולם צורך לו היו עובדין הרי הוא מבטלה הרי הן עובדין לחמה וללבנה ולכוכבים ולמזלות יאבד עולם מפני השוטים אלא עולם כמנהגו נוהג ושוטים שקלקלו עתידין ליתן את הדין

 

GEMARA. Our Rabbis taught: Philosophers asked the elders in Rome, If your God has no desire for idolatry, why does He not abolish it? They replied, If they worshipped something that the world did not need, He would abolish it; but they worship the sun, moon, stars and planets; should He destroy the Universe on account of fools! The world pursues its natural course, and as for the fools who spoil the world, in the future they will be called into account.

 

This is essentially the same material found in the mishnah. The only difference is that at the end, it adds that in the future idolaters will be called into account, meaning they will be punished for their deeds.

 

דבר אחר הרי שגזל סאה של חטים [והלך] וזרעה בקרקע דין הוא שלא תצמח אלא עולם כמנהגו נוהג והולך ושוטים שקלקלו עתידין ליתן את הדין

 

Another matter: Suppose a man stole a measure of wheat and went and planted it in the ground; it is right that it should not grow, but the world pursues its natural course and as for the fools who act wrongly, they will be called into account.

 

Stolen wheat grows this is the way of the world.

 

דבר אחר הרי שבא על אשת חבירו דין הוא שלא תתעבר אלא עולם כמנהגו נוהג והולך ושוטים שקלקלו עתידין ליתן את הדין

 

Another matter: Suppose a man has intercourse with his neighbor s wife; it is right that she should not conceive, but the world pursues its natural course and as for the fools who act wrongly, they will be called into account.

 

Adulterers conceive fact of life.

והיינו דאמר ריש לקיש אמר הקב"ה לא דיין לרשעים שעושין סלע שלי פומבי אלא שמטריחין אותי ומחתימין אותי בעל כרחי

 

This is similar to what Resh Lakish said: The Holy One, blessed be He, declared, It is not enough that the wicked put My coinage to vulgar use, but they trouble Me and cause me to sign against My will.

 

Human beings are occasionally considered coins stamped by God for like a coin stamped with the face of the king, so too human beings were created in the likeness of God. But we put God s coin to wicked use by committing adultery and then we force God to sign on the results when the offspring also bears God s likeness.