Commentary for Avodah Zarah 31:11
מ"ט לאו משום דלמא אתי לשהויי וליטעמיך שאין מקריבין אותו היום אלא למחר מאי טעמא אלא רבי מיעקר מילתא בעי וסבר יעקר ואתי פורתא פורתא
Now what is the reason [for not presenting it alive] if not to avoid its being kept? But if that is the reason, what is the purpose of [paying them such that is should not be presented] today, but rather tomorrow? Rather, Rabbi was anxious to abolish the thing entirely, but he considered it advisable to do it little by little.
Daf Shevui to Avodah Zarah
The problem with the above explanation is that if the animal was dead, then why would Rabbi also have paid for it to be presented the day after the festival. The baraita simply makes no sense read that way.
Rather, the series of payments was just a gradual way to ease the Romans into allowing Rabbi and his house not to have to give the fatted ox altogether.
Rather, the series of payments was just a gradual way to ease the Romans into allowing Rabbi and his house not to have to give the fatted ox altogether.
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