Avodah Zarah, Daf Samekh Tet, Part 4

 

Introduction

Today s section explains why the mishnah had to teach all of the cases in the mishnah. Why couldn t we have learned one from the other?

 

המניח עובד כוכבים בחנותו כו’ המניח יינו בקרון או בספינה כו’:

וצריכא דאי תנא עובד כוכבים דסבר דלמא אתי וחזי ליה אבל בקרון או בספינה אימא דמפליג לה לספינתיה ועביד מאי דבעי

 

If [a Jew] left a non-Jew in his shop etc. If [a Jew] left his wine in a wagon or a ship etc. [Both cases] are necessary; for if it had taught only the case of a non-Jew [transporting jars of wine], [I might have thought the wine is permitted] since he thought that perhaps [the Jew] would come and see him, but when [the wine is left] in a wagon or ship, I might say [that it must be prohibited because the non-Jew] could set sail and do whatever he wished [to the wine].

 

If the mishnah had taught only the first case where they were transporting jars of wine, I might have thought that the reason it is permitted there (if it was presumed that the wine was under guard) is that the non-Jew is worried that the Jew will come back and see him drinking the wine. But if the Jew leaves the non-Jew by boat or by wagon, the non-Jew could simply travel a bit away and do what he wants. Therefore, the mishnah had to teach us that even in this case the wine is permitted (as long as the Jew did not tell the non-Jew that he was leaving).

 

ואי תנא בקרון או בספינה משום דסבר דלמא אתי באורחא אחריתי וקאי אגודא וחזי לי אבל עובד כוכבים בחנותו אימא אחיד לה לבבא ועביד כל דבעי קמ"ל

 

If it had taught only the case [of wine being left] in a wagon or ship, [I might have assumed that it was permitted] because the man would have thought, Perhaps [the owner] will come by another path or stand on the bank and see me, but when a non-Jew [is left] in the Jew s shop, I would say [that it must be prohibited because] he could shut the door and do whatever he wished. Therefore it teaches us that in both cases it is prohibited.

 

If the mishnah had taught only the case of the wagon or ship I might have thought that in that case the non-Jew is afraid that the Jew will sneak up on him and therefore he would not drink the wine. But if he s left in the shop, the non-Jew could lock the door and do what he wants. Therefore, the mishnah had to teach that in both cases the wine is permitted, again, as long as the Jew does not inform the non-Jew that he is leaving.