Commentary for Avodah Zarah 35:4
ועל בתו לישב בקובה של זונות דאמר ר' יוחנן פעם אחת היתה בתו מהלכת לפני גדולי רומי אמרו כמה נאות פסיעותיה של ריבה זו מיד דקדקה בפסיעותיה והיינו דאמר ר' שמעון בן לקיש מאי דכתיב (תהלים מט, ו) עון עקבי יסבני עונות שאדם דש בעקביו בעולם הזה מסובין לו ליום הדין
His daughter was consigned to a brothel, as R. Yohanan said that once his daughter was walking in front of some great men of Rome. They remarked, “How beautiful are the steps of this maiden!” Immediately she took particular care of her step. And this accords with what Resh Lakish said: What is the meaning of the verse, “The sin of my heel encompasses me” (Psalms 49:6). Sins which one treads under one’s heels in this world encompass him on the Day of Judgment.
Daf Shevui to Avodah Zarah
The Talmud searches for a sin for which R. Hanina’s daughter is punished as well. Note, the Talmud is not satisfied with saying that his wife and daughter are punished in order to punish him. This might make sense as a simple reading of the story but does not match the rabbinic understanding of God’s justice and power. Rather, they are punished for their own sins. His daughter’s sin was as minor as taking delight in the attention the Roman men paid to her.
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