Study Avodah Zarah folio 23A with parallel Hebrew-English text, traditional commentary, and modern study tools. Free access to Babylonian Talmud online.
§ The Talmud cites another resolution of the apparent contradiction between the Mishnah, which rules that non-Jews are suspected of bestiality, and the baraita, which permits an animal purchased from non-Jews to be sacrificed as an offering. Ravina said that it is not difficult; this Mishnah issues
The Talmud asks: And from where do you say that there is a difference in this case between ab initio and after the fact? As we learned in the Mishnah: A woman may not seclude herself with them because they are suspected of engaging in forbidden sex. And one can raise a contradiction from another Mis
The Talmud continues: Rather, isn’t it correct to conclude from here that there is a difference for us between ab initio, as in the Mishnah here, and after the fact, as in the Mishnah in Ketubot? The Talmud rejects this conclusion: From where can this be proven? Perhaps I could actually say to you
The Talmud adds: Know that this is the explanation, as the latter clause of that Mishnah teaches: If she was imprisoned due to a capital offense she is forbidden to her husband. Clearly, the difference is that in this case there is no incentive for the non-Jews to leave her unharmed. The Talmud co
R' Pedat said: The contradiction between the Mishnah, which rules that non-Jews are suspected of bestiality, and the baraita, which permits an animal purchased from non-Jews to be sacrificed as an offering, is not difficult; this Mishnah is in accordance with the opinion of R' Eliezer, while that