Commentary for Avodah Zarah 44:5
אלא הא דתניא אין מוסרין בהמה לרועה שלהן לימא רועה שלהן מתיירא משום הפסד שכרו
What then about that which was taught: “One should not turn over cattle to a non-Jewish shepherd” why not say that their shepherd would be afraid of losing his wages?
Daf Shevui to Avodah Zarah
The problem with the above solution is that another baraita seems to imply the opposite—we are concerned lest non-Jewish shepherds engage in bestiality, and therefore Jews should not turn over animals to them.
The solution is that non-Jews know a lot about bestiality and would know when one shepherd is taking his animal aside for a little more than just grooming. Therefore, they will be afraid of losing their wages. But when it comes to working with Jews, Jews are not so familiar with bestiality, so they won’t know what the shepherd is doing. The non-Jew will not be afraid lest he gets caught.
Rabbah connects this to a folk saying, about how a spy (or perhaps gossip-monger/evil doer) knows what others plot.
The solution is that non-Jews know a lot about bestiality and would know when one shepherd is taking his animal aside for a little more than just grooming. Therefore, they will be afraid of losing their wages. But when it comes to working with Jews, Jews are not so familiar with bestiality, so they won’t know what the shepherd is doing. The non-Jew will not be afraid lest he gets caught.
Rabbah connects this to a folk saying, about how a spy (or perhaps gossip-monger/evil doer) knows what others plot.
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