Commentary for Avodah Zarah 68:13
א"ר יהודה שאל ר' ישמעאל: אמר רב אחדבוי אמר רב המקדש בפרש שור הנסקל מקודשת בפרש עגלי עבודת כוכבים אינה מקודשת איבעית אימא סברא ואב"א קרא
R. Judah said: R. Yishmael asked etc. R. Ahdaboi said in the name of Rav: If one betroths a woman with the dung of an ox which is to be stoned she is betrothed; but if with dung of calves used for idolatry, she is not betrothed. You can say that this can be proved by logic, or, you may say it comes from Scripture.
Daf Shevui to Avodah Zarah
Men did not betroth women with dung of any animals during the Talmudic period, any more than someone would do such a thing now. This is a great example of rabbis using the issue of the viability of betrothal to demonstrate something else. If the dung has value, then the man can perform betrothal with it. The dung of an ox that has been sentenced to be stoned (for murder) evidently has value, despite the fact that one may not derive benefit from the ox. In contrast, the dung of an animal used for idolatry does not have value. Therefore, this act of betrothal is invalid.
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Daf Shevui to Avodah Zarah
The Talmud first attempts to explain this with logic. When it comes to the animals offered as idols, the owner would want them fatter—more food for the gods. Therefore, there dung is something he wanted and it has value. But when it comes to an ox sentenced to be stoned, the owner certainly does not care that they be fattened. Therefore, this dung is unwanted and has no value.
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