These are things that it is forbidden to sell to idolators: itztroblin (fruits of a cedar), b'noth shvach [kinds of large white figs] with their spines [on which they hang, the gentile probably wishing to bring them as an offering to idolatry], and frankincense, and a white cock. R. Yehudah says: It is permitted to sell him a white cock among the others. [If a gentile buys many cocks from a Jew it is permitted to sell him a white cock among them; for since he takes others, it is apparent that he does not intend it for idolatry.] And when it is by itself, he cuts its finger and sells it to him, for they do not sacrifice a defective (animal) to idolatry. As for all other things, if he does not specify (what he will use them for) it is permitted (to sell them to him), and if he expressly states [that he desires them for idolatry], it is forbidden. [It is necessary to say this, for I might otherwise think that this man does not really want them for idolatry, but says that he does, thinking that just as he is devoted to idolatry, so are all others, and he says this, hoping that they will "come down" (on the price); we are, therefore, told that this is not so.] R. Meir says: It is also forbidden to sell to an idolator [the fruit of] a choice palm, [which are customarily offered to idolatry], chatzav [sugar cane], and niklivam [an unusually fine herb. The halachah is in accordance with R. Meir.]
Bartenura on Mishnah Avodah Zarah
אצטרובלין – fruit of the cedar.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Avodah Zarah
Introduction
This mishnah begins a somewhat new topic: things which are forbidden to sell to idolaters at all times of the year and not just during their holidays, lest these things be used in idol worship. Again, it is not only forbidden to worship idols, but it is forbidden to aid non-Jews in idolatry.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Avodah Zarah
בנות שוח – it is prohibited for an Israelite to sell a kind of the species of the large white figs to an idolater.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Avodah Zarah
The following things are forbidden to be sold to idolaters: iztroblin, bnoth-shuah with their stems, frankincense, and a white rooster. Iztroblin are the pines of a cedar tree. Bnoth-shuah are types of figs. All of these things listed in this section are used by the idolaters for idol worship. Therefore it is forbidden to sell them to non-Jews since that would be abetting idolatry.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Avodah Zarah
ופטוטרות – with their stems (Talmud Avodah Zarah 13b) it is stated, meaning to say, with their stalks/peduncles by which they are suspended, for undefined, the idolater wants to offer them as a [sacrificial] offering to idolatry.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Avodah Zarah
Rabbi Judah says: it is permitted to sell a white rooster to an idolater among other roosters; but if it be by itself, one should clip its spur and then sell it to him, because a defective [animal] is not sacrificed to an idol. As for other things, if they are not specified their sale is permitted, but if specified it is forbidden. Rabbi Judah presents some exceptions to the prohibition of selling a white rooster to an idolater. A Jew may sell a white rooster to an idolater if it is sold with other regular roosters. In this case the Jew is merely selling roosters and happens to sell one that is white. The non-Jew may also not be purchasing the rooster for idolatrous purposes since he bought a lot of other roosters. Furthermore, when he sells the white rooster it doesn’t look to others as if he is selling something specifically for idol worship, since the other roosters he is selling will not typically be used in idol worship. Rabbi Judah also creates a way for Jews to sell white roosters alone to idolaters. As long as the Jew cuts off the spur the sale is permitted since the idolater will not sacrifice a blemished animal. With regards to the other forbidden items, it is forbidden to sell them to idolaters only if the sale is specifically for idol worship. If not, it is permitted to sell the item, because it may be used for other, non-idolatrous purposes.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Avodah Zarah
תרנגול לבן בין תרנגולין – an idolater bought from an Israelite many chickens, it is permitted to sell amongst them a white chicken and since another person took them, It was not for idolatry that he wanted them.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Avodah Zarah
Rabbi Meir says: also a “good-palm”, hazab and niklivas are forbidden to be sold to idolaters. Rabbi Meir adds several other things which are forbidden for a Jew to sell to idolaters. All three of these are varieties of date-palms.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Avodah Zarah
ופירושן אסור – if he explained/specified that it was for idolatry that he needed them, it is prohibited. And it was necessary for our Mishnah [to specify this] for you might think that I would say that this person wanted them not for idolatrous purposes, and when he said this, he holds that just as that this person clings to it (for idolatrous purposes), everyone also clings to it, and I would say this for [just as] he would give it to me, it to teach us [that the reverse is to be taught].
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Bartenura on Mishnah Avodah Zarah
דקל טב – [fruits] of a superior date which are regularly used for sacrificial purposes to idolatry.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Avodah Zarah
נקב – reeds that they make from them sugar.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Avodah Zarah
ונקליהם – a kind of very superior herb/grass, and the Halakha is according to Rabbi Meir.
