If one finds vessels on which are depicted the form of the sun, the form of the moon [Rambam explains: Not that he finds a circular object and says: This is the sun; or a crescent-shaped object and says: This is the moon, but that he finds a figure that the astrologers see as representing the sun or the moon, viz.: The sun is represented as a crowned king riding on a chariot, and the like.], the form of Dracon, [a serpent, having appendages and scales like those of a fish. (They say that it represents the rays of the moon, which was worshiped in those days.) And even the Rabbis, who say above that all other tzelamim are permitted agree that these are forbidden, being objects of worship.] — they should be thrown into the Dead Sea. R. Shimon b. Gamliel says: [Those forms] that are on valued objects, [such as bracelets, nose rings and (finger) rings, and the like] are forbidden, and those on common objects, [such as kettles, boilers, heaters, and the like] are permitted. R. Yossi says: He should take them and throw them to the winds or cast them into the sea [so that no Jew benefit from them] — whereupon they said to him: But that, too, [(grinding them down and throwing them to the wind, is of benefit to the Jews)], converting (the objects) into fertilizer, and it is written (Deuteronomy 13:18): "And let naught of the spoil adhere to your hand!"
Bartenura on Mishnah Avodah Zarah
צורת חמה צורת לבנה – Rambam/Maimonides, of blessed memory, explained, that you should not find it would and he would say, “this is the sun,” or in the form of a round bow, and he would say, “this is the moon,” but rather that he should find a representation that they would relate these astrological specula to the sun or the moon, like they said, that the representation of the sun is like a wreathed king sitting on a wagon, and similarly all this that are like this.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Avodah Zarah
Introduction
This mishnah discusses what one must do with things that he found that are likely to have been used as idols.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Avodah Zarah
צורת דרקון – the representation of a snake which has something glistening and scales like the scales of a fish, and they say that it is the representation of the hills of the moon, and it was worshipped in those days, and even according to the Rabbis who stated above (i.e., Mishnah 1), that all of the rest of the images are permissible, they would agree that these are forbidden for it is their custom to worship them.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Avodah Zarah
If one finds utensils upon which is the figure of the sun or moon or a dragon, he casts them into the Dead Sea. Rabban Shimon ben Gamaliel says: if [one of these figures] is upon precious utensils they are prohibited, but if upon common utensils they are permitted. If one finds a utensil that has on it a picture of the sun, moon or a dragon he must destroy it, since it was certainly used for idolatrous purposes. According to the first section of the mishnah, the best way to totally destroy an idol is to throw it into the Dead Sea. In such a way there is no chance that he, or any other Jew, will ever derive any benefit from it. Rabban Shimon ben Gamaliel states that not all utensils that have pictures of the sun, moon or dragon are forbidden. Only precious utensils with such pictures on them are forbidden, for they were certainly worshipped. Cheap utensils were, in all likelihood, not worshipped, and are therefore permitted, even though they have on them pictures of the sun, moon or dragon.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Avodah Zarah
שעל המכובדים – nice utensils that their use is for adornment and honor, such as chains, nose-rings and rings and similar kinds of things.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Avodah Zarah
Rabbi Yose says: he may grind [an idol] to powder and scatter it to the wind or throw it into the sea. They said to him, even so it may then become manure, as it says, “let nothing that has been proscribed stick to your hand (Deuteronomy 13:18)”. Rabbi Yose adds to the opinion in section one which stated that the idols must be thrown into the Dead Sea. He holds that it is even sufficient to grind them up and then throw the dust to the wind. The other Sages respond to him that this is not sufficient. By grinding up the idol, someone might use it as fertilizer. This method of destruction would not, therefore, prevent other Jews from violating the strict prohibition of deriving benefit from idols. The Sages bring a verse from Deuteronomy to prove that it is forbidden to derive even the smallest benefit from idolatrous objects.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Avodah Zarah
מבוזים – boilers and kettles and those things that warm up warm things, and other similar things. And the Halakha is according to Rabban Shimon ben Gamaliel.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Avodah Zarah
וזורה לרוח – so that an Israelite will not benefit from it.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Avodah Zarah
אף הוא – if he cast it to the wind also now there would be benefit to an Israelite from it, for it would become manure.
