Commentary for Avodah Zarah 40:7
אמר מר ממנה מת נימא פליגא דאבוה דשמואל דאמר אבוה דשמואל אמר לי מלאך המות אי לא דחיישנא ליקרא דברייתא הוה פרענא בית השחיטה כבהמה דלמא ההיא טיפה מחתכה להו לסימנין
The Master said: “From it he dies.” Shall we say that this differs from the statement of Shmuel’s father? For Shmuel’s father said: The Angel of Death told me, Were it not for the regard I have for people’s honor, I would cut the tear open the throat of men like that of an animal!” Possibly, that very drop cuts into the organs of the throat.
Daf Shevui to Avodah Zarah
Above the baraita had stated that the drop of gall from the Angel of Death’s sword kills people. But Shmuel’s father seems to say that the Angel of Death kills with his sword.
The Talmud resolves this (rather weakly, in my humble opinion) by suggesting that the drop of gall may be what cuts the organs of the throat. Not the sword itself.
The Talmud resolves this (rather weakly, in my humble opinion) by suggesting that the drop of gall may be what cuts the organs of the throat. Not the sword itself.
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