Avodah Zarah

There are some who say that the reason for not permitting [the sale of] shields is this: When they have no weapons left, they might use these for killing [in battles]. But there are others who say that shields may be sold to them, for when they have no more weapons they run away. Said R. Nahman in the name of Rabbah b. Abbuha: The halachah is with 'the Others'. Said R. Adda b. Ahabah: One should not sell them bars of iron. Why? — Because they may hammer weapons out of them. If so, spades and pick-axes too [should be forbidden]! — Said R. Zebid: We mean [bars of] Indian iron.  Why then do we sell it now? — Said R. Ashi: [We sell it] to the Persians who protect us. CALVES AND FOALS. It has been taught:  R. Judah permits [the sale of] a maimed one, since it cannot be cured or restored to health.  Said they to him: Might she not be fit for breeding purposes, and since she proves fit for breeding purposes, she will be kept?  He replied: You wait till she bears. This is to say, An animal [in such a state] will not let the male get near her. BEN BATHYRA PERMITS IN THE CASE OF A HORSE. It has been taught: Ben Bathyra permits [the sale of] a horse, because it is only put to a kind of work which does not involve the bringing of a sin-offering.  Rabbi, however, forbids it for two reasons: the one, because it comes under the prohibition of selling weapons,  the other, because it comes under the prohibition of big cattle. It is quite right as regards the prohibition of weapons; there are [horses] which [are trained to] kill by trampling, but how does the prohibition of big cattle apply?  — Said R. Johanan, when the horse gets old, it is made to work a mill on the Sabbath.  Said R. Johanan: The halachah is with Ben Bathyra. The following question was asked: What about an ox that has been fatted?  This question applies both to R. Judah  and to the Rabbis:  It applies to R. Judah, for R. Judah only permits in the case of a maimed one, which can in no case be fit for work, whereas this one, which if kept long enough may be fit for work, might be forbidden; or it might be said that even according to the Rabbis it is only in that case [of a maimed one], which is ordinarily not intended for slaughter, that they forbid, but this one, which is ordinarily intended for slaughter, they might permit? Come and hear: Rab Judah said in the name of Samuel that the House of Rabbi had to present a fatted ox [to the Romans] for their festival, and a sum of forty thousand [coins] was paid for the concession not to contribute it on the day of the festival but on the morrow; then another forty thousand was paid for the permission to present it not alive but slaughtered; then forty thousand was again expended to be freed altogether from presenting it. Now what is the reason [for not presenting it alive] if not to avoid its being kept?  — But if that is the reason, what is the purpose of the concession of offering it on the morrow instead of on the day? Obviously, then, Rabbi was anxious to abolish the thing entirely, but he considered it advisable to do it little by little.  But is [a fatted ox] if kept [and slimmed] healthy enough to do work? — Said R. Ashi: Zabida  told me that a young bullock when kept [and slimmed] does the work of two. MISHNAH. ONE SHOULD NOT SELL THEM BEARS, LIONS OR ANYTHING WHICH MAY INJURE THE PUBLIC. ONE SHOULD NOT JOIN THEM IN BUILDING A BASILICA,  A SCAFFOLD, A STADIUM, OR A PLATFORM.  BUT ONE MAY JOIN THEM IN BUILDING PEDESTALS [FOR ALTARS]  AND ALSO [PRIVATE-] BATHS. WHEN HOWEVER HE REACHES THE CUPOLA IN WHICH THE IDOL IS PLACED HE MUST NOT BUILD. GEMARA. Said R. Hanin, son of R. Hisda (some report, Said R. Hanan b. Raba in the name of Rab): To big beasts the same rule applies as to small cattle as regards struggling  but not as regards selling,  but my opinion is that it applies to selling also, so that in such places where it is the custom to sell,  such sale is permitted, but where the custom is not to sell, it is forbidden. Our Mishnah says: ONE SHOULD NOT SELL THEM BEARS, LIONS, OR ANYTHING WHICH MAY INJURE THE PUBLIC. The reason, then, is because they may injure the public, but were it not for fear of injury to the public would it be permitted?  Said Rabbah b. 'Ulla: [Our Mishnah may refer] to a mutilated lion