Commentary for Avodah Zarah 83:13
איתיביה עכו"ם שהביא אבנים מן המרקוליס וחיפה בהן דרכים וטרטיאות מותרות וישראל שהביא אבנים מן המרקוליס וחיפה בהן דרכים וטרטיאות אסורות אמאי תיהוי כעבודת כוכבים שנשתברה מאליה
[R. Yohanan] raised another difficulty again [Resh Lakish]: If an idolater brought stones from [the statue of] Mercury and used them for paving roads or theatres, they are permitted [to be walked on by an Israelite]; but if an Israelite brought stones from [the statue of] Mercury and used them for paving roads or theatres, they are prohibited. But why [are they not permitted]? Let them be considered the same as an idol which was broken of its own accord!
Daf Shevui to Avodah Zarah
Again, we read a baraita which says that even if an Israelite breaks up a statue of Mercury (which was originally composed of stones) and uses it to pave a road, the stones and everything they were used to build is prohibited. This is a difficulty against Resh Lakish.
The Talmud resolves this by again citing Rava’s statement. In principle these stones were annulled because the idol was broken. However, we don’t allow people to use them lest the Jew come to own the idol, in which case it can’t be annulled. But if an idol broke on its own, it is annulled.
The Talmud resolves this by again citing Rava’s statement. In principle these stones were annulled because the idol was broken. However, we don’t allow people to use them lest the Jew come to own the idol, in which case it can’t be annulled. But if an idol broke on its own, it is annulled.
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