Commentary for Avodah Zarah 14:10
והאיכא בן בתירא דקאי כוותיה דתנן בן בתירא מתיר בסוס בן בתירא לא מפליג בין זכרים לנקבות איהו מדקא מפליג בין זכרים לנקבות כרבנן סבירא ליה ולרבנן נשתקע הדבר ולא נאמר
But is there not Ben Batera who holds the same opinion; for we learned: Ben Batera permits [the sale of] a horse? Ben Batera does not distinguish between the sale of horses and mares, whereas Nahum the Mede does make that distinction, and thus holds like the rabbis; and according to the rabbis: This matter ought to be suppressed and left unsaid.
Daf Shevui to Avodah Zarah
There seems to be another sage who holds the same opinion as Nahum the Mede. Ben Batera also allows selling a horse. But when we look deeper, we will see that they do not hold the same opinion. Ben Batera allows one to sell any horse to an idolater. This is because a horse’s work is to carry a rider, and carrying a rider is not considered work. But the other sages still prohibit selling horses, less one come to sell an ox, which pulls a plow. Nahum the Mede does not allow any horse, just old male horses. Thus he must hold like the other rabbis, and the other rabbis say that Nahum the Mede’s leniency should be hidden.
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