Commentary for Avodah Zarah 50:6
לא יתייחד אדם עמהן: ת"ר ישראל שנזדמן לו עובד כוכבים בדרך טופלו לימינו ר' ישמעאל בנו של ר' יוחנן בן ברוקה אומר בסייף טופלו לימינו במקל טופלו לשמאלו
No man should be alone with them. Our Rabbis taught: If an Israelite happens to be joined by an idolater while on the road, he should let him (the idolater) walk on his right. R. Ishmael the son of R. Yohanan the son of R. Yohanan b. Berokah says: [If the idolater is armed] with a sword, he should let him walk on his right; if with a stick on the left.
Daf Shevui to Avodah Zarah
All of these are precautions that an Israelite should take around a non-Jew so that the non-Jew will not be able to act violently against him.
If the idolater has a sword, and is right-handed, then the sword will be on the non-Jew’s left, and the Jew’s right. The Israelite will thus be able to prevent the non-Jew from drawing. But if he is holding a stick, then it will simply be in the non-Jew’s hand. Better to keep him to the left, so that he could feel if the non-Jew makes his move.
The Israelite should always be on the higher ground, where it is safer to defend oneself.
If the idolater has a sword, and is right-handed, then the sword will be on the non-Jew’s left, and the Jew’s right. The Israelite will thus be able to prevent the non-Jew from drawing. But if he is holding a stick, then it will simply be in the non-Jew’s hand. Better to keep him to the left, so that he could feel if the non-Jew makes his move.
The Israelite should always be on the higher ground, where it is safer to defend oneself.
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