Celui qui donne de sa semence à Molech n'est pas responsable tant qu'il ne l'a pas donné aux [prêtres de] Molech et l'a passé par le feu [d'un côté à l'autre]. S'il l'a donné à Molech mais ne l'a pas passé par le feu, ou l'a passé par le feu mais ne l'a pas donné à Molech, il n'est pas responsable — jusqu'à ce qu'il le donne à Molech et le passe par le feu, [il est écrit en un endroit (Lévitique 18:21): "... tu ne donneras pas pour passer", et, dans un autre (Deutéronome 18:10): "Il y aura ne pas trouver parmi vous celui qui passe son fils ou sa fille par le feu " —Tout comme là, à travers le feu; ici aussi à travers le feu.] Ba'al Ov, un prestidigitateur [Il prend le crâne d'un mort après que la chair s'est décomposée, y fume de l'encens, en demande son avenir et il répond.], celui qui parle de ses aisselles [(et il y en a qui projettent les réponses des morts à travers leurs aisselles)], et yidoni, celui qui parle par sa bouche—ceux-ci sont sujets à lapidation. [("yidoni" :) un animal appelé "yidoa", dont le visage, les bras et les jambes sont comme ceux d'un homme. Il est attaché par une corde allant de son nombril à une racine dans le sol, ce qui lui donne vie. En le chassant, ils tirent des flèches sur la corde jusqu'à ce qu'elle soit coupée et qu'elle meure immédiatement. Dans le langage des sages, il est appelé «l'homme de la montagne»]. Et celui qui s'enquiert d'eux [pour l'informer de l'avenir (comme dans l'exemple de Saul)] est en violation d'une exhortation, [à savoir. (Lévitique 19:31): "Ne vous tournez pas vers l'ovoth, etc."]
Bartenura on Mishnah Sanhedrin
שימסור למולך – transmit it in the hands of the [idolatrous] priests.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Sanhedrin
Introduction
The first half of mishnah seven deals with one who gives of his seed to Molech. The second half of mishnah seven deals with the “Ba’al Ob” and the “Yidde’oni”. We will explain all of these terms below.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Sanhedrin
ויעביר באש – pass him from one side to the other.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Sanhedrin
He who gives of his seed to Molech is not liable unless he delivers it to Molech and causes it to pass through the fire. If he gave it to Molech but did not cause it to pass through the fire, or he caused it to pass through fire but did not give it to Molech, he incurs no penalty, unless he does both. “Molech” was the name given by a god worshipped by some of Israel’s neighbors. It is mentioned in Leviticus 20:2, where it specifically states that one who gives of his seed to Molech shall be stoned. It is also mentioned in Leviticus 18:21 and II Kings 23:10. According to the Rabbis “giving one’s seed to Molech” involved giving one’s child to the priests of Molech and their passing him from one side of a fire to another. The child was not consumed by the fire. (Although some commentators hold that this was a form of child sacrifice. For an interesting article on Biblical scholarship with regards to the cult of Molech, see the JPS Commentary on Leviticus). Our mishnah teaches that in order for the father to be obligated for the death penalty he must both give the child to the priests of Molech and cause the child to be passed through the fire. If he does only one of these he is not to be stoned.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Sanhedrin
עד שימסור ויעביר באש – as it says (Leviticus 18:21): “[Do not allow any of your offspring] to be offered up [to Molech, and do not profane the name of your God: I am the LORD],” and it is written there (Deuteronomy 18:10): “Let no one be found among you who consigns his son or daughter to the fire…” Just as consigning stated there is by fire, so to the consigning mentioned here is by fire.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Sanhedrin
A Ba'al Ob is the pithom who speaks from his armpit. The Yidde'oni is one who speaks from his mouth. These two are stoned; while he who inquires of them transgresses a formal prohibition. Leviticus 19:31 specifically warns that Israelites are not to make inquiry of the “Ovoth” or the “Yidde’onim”. These were different types of sorcerers or oracles who would conjure up spirits in order to tell the future. According to our mishnah a “Ba’al Ob”, or Master of the Ob” was a “pithom”, which in Greek means a conjurer. According to Rashi he would place a skull underneath his armpit and use it to predict the future. A “Yidde’oni” would also conjure up spirits but he would speak from his mouth. If an Israelite were to act as a conjurer of this sort he would be obligated for stoning. If an Israelite were to inquire of a “Ba’al Ob” or “Yidde’oni” he would transgress a negative commandment, but he would not be obligated for the death penalty.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Sanhedrin
אוב זה פיתום – to take the skull of the dead after the flesh had been consumed and make an idolatrous offering of incense with it and divine from it future events and it responds.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Sanhedrin
והמדבר משחיו – there are those who do it whereby the dead will respond via the arm-pit.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Sanhedrin
ידעוני – a creature whose name is known and its form is like that of a human being in its face, hands and feet, and it is attached at its navel to a cord that goes out from the root that is rooted in the ground and from there is its life, and when we wish to hunt it, we shoot arrows to the cord until it is broken and it dies immediately. And it is called in the language of the Sages, “a human being of the mountain” [for divination].
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Bartenura on Mishnah Sanhedrin
והנשאל בהם – who comes and ask to know through them and to tell him something of the future such as Saul (see I Samuel, chapter 28, where Saul consults with the witch of Endor).
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Bartenura on Mishnah Sanhedrin
באזהרה – (Leviticus 19:31): “Do not turn to ghosts [and do not inquire of familiar spirits, to be defiled by them: I the LORD am your God].”
