Commentary for Avodah Zarah 108:21

אמר לו אמשול לך משל למה"ד למלך ב"ו שסרחה עליו מדינה כשהוא עושה מלחמה עם החיים הוא עושה או עם המתים הוא עושה הוי אומר עם החיים הוא עושה

[Rabban Gamaliel asked], “What is your proof?” He replied, “Once a fire broke out in our city, and the whole town was burned with the exception of a certain idolatrous shrine!” He said to him, “I will give you a parable: To what is the matter like? To a human king against whom one of his provinces rebelled. If he goes to war against it, does he fight with the living or the dead? Surely he wages war with the living!”

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