Commentary for Avodah Zarah 16:6
ושלחו להו רומאי ליונאי עד האידנא עבידנא בקרבא השתא נעביד בדינא מרגלית ואבן טובה איזו מהן יעשה בסיס לחבירו שלחו להו מרגלית לאבן טובה
Then the Romans sent to the Greeks as follows: Up until now we have been engaging in battle, now let us argue out in logic: A pearl and a precious stone which shall form a setting for which? They sent the reply: The pearl for the precious stone.
Daf Shevui to Avodah Zarah
With Israel in tow, the Romans now set out to verbally convince the Greeks to give in. Since Rome is in possession of the “Sefer Torah,” and even the Greeks agree that the Sefer Torah is the “jewel” and thus the onyx, a symbol of Greece, should serve as the setting for the Torah, the symbol of Israel and due to their alliance, Rome. The Greeks concede to this argument and Rome and the Israelites win.
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