Commentary for Avodah Zarah 31:2
איכא דאמרי תריסין היינו טעמא דלא דכי שלים זינייהו קטלי בגוייהו ויש אומרים מוכרים להם תריסין דכי שלים זינייהו מערק ערקי אמר רב נחמן אמר רבה בר אבוה הלכה כיש אומרים
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. Nahman said in the name of Rabbah b. Abbuha: The halakhah accords with the “others say.”
Daf Shevui to Avodah Zarah
Another way of understanding why one should not sell them shields is that shields are easily turned into weapons. Indeed, while I’ve never battled with swords or shields, hitting your opponent with the shield seems to occur quite frequently in television and the movies.
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Daf Shevui to Avodah Zarah
Those who allow Jews to sell them shields explain that when they have no more weapons, the non-Jews will not use their weapons as shields, they will simply run away.
Nahman in the end allows selling them shields. As often occurs in these issues, the Talmud adopts the more lenient view.
Nahman in the end allows selling them shields. As often occurs in these issues, the Talmud adopts the more lenient view.
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