Musar for Sanhedrin 118:25

ר"ש אומר אף על הכישוף: מ"ט דר"ש דכתיב

But can fish be made to work? — Yes, even as Rahabah propounded: What if one drove [a waggon] with a goat and a shibbuta?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Name of a fish, conjectured by Jastrow to be the mullet (Cephalus, v. Payne Smith, Thesaurus Syriacus 4029). The problem raised is whether this would involve the transgression of the prohibition, Thou shalt not plow an ox and ass together, Deut. XXII, 10. ');">²⁷</span> Come and hear: and over the foul of the heaven.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Continuing the verse. ');">²⁸</span> Surely this is in respect of food? — No. It refers to toil. But can fowl be made to work? — Yes, even as Rabbah, son of R. Huna propounded: According to the ruling of R. Jose b. R. Judah, what if one threshed [corn] with geese or cocks?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. B.M. 91b. The problems raised in connection with the prohibition, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn. Deut. XXV, 4 shows that birds may be utilized for service. ');">²⁹</span> Come and hear: And over every living creature that moveth upon the earth!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The Heb. [H] translated 'living creature', denotes literally a wild animal, which cannot be put to service, but can only be caught and eaten. ');">³⁰</span> — That refers to the serpent. For it has been taught: — R. Simeon b. Manassia said: Woe for the loss of a great servant. For had not the serpent been cursed, every Israelite would have had two valuable serpents, sending one to the north and one to the south to bring him costly gems, precious stones and pearls.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Heb. [H] from [G] (Levy) or [G] (Krauss). ');">³¹</span> Moreover, one would have fastened a thong under its tail, with which it would bring forth earth for his garden and waste land.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Thus the Serpent was intended to be put to service before it was cursed. ');">³²</span> A [further] objection is raised: R. Judah b. Tema said: Adam reclined in the Garden of Eden, whilst the ministering angels roasted flesh and strained wine for him. Thereupon the serpent looked in, saw his glory, and became envious of him?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' This proves that flesh was permitted to Adam. ');">³³</span> — The reference there is to flesh that descended from heaven. But does flesh descend from heaven? — Yes; as in the story of R. Simeon b. Halafta, who was walking on the road, when lions met him and roared at him. Thereupon he quoted: The young lions roar after their prey;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ps. CIV, 21. ');">³⁴</span> and two lumps of flesh descended [from heaven]. They ate one and left the other. This he brought to the schoolhouse and propounded: Is this clean [fit for food] or not? — They [sc. the scholars] answered: Nothing unclean descends from heaven. R. Zera asked R. Abbahu: What if something in the shape of an ass were to descend? — He replied: Thou howling yorod:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Yarod is a bird of solitary habits, or a jackal (Rashi). The meaning is: what a foolish question to ask! ');">³⁵</span> did they not answer him that no unclean thing descends from heaven?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Hence thy supposition is an impossible one; and if it did happen, it would be fit for food. ');">³⁶</span> 'R. Simeon said, They were also forbidden to practice sorcery.' What is R. Simeon's reason? — Because it is written,

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