If idolaters worship the mountains and hills, they are permitted, but what is upon them (such as if they coated them with gold or silver) is prohibited to derive benefit.

(R. Yosi HaGlili): 'Their gods are upon the mountains' but the mountains are not their gods; 'their gods are upon the hills' but the hills are not their gods.

Why is an Asheirah (a tree that was worshipped) prohibited? (Shouldn't we learn in the same way as the mountains and hills that since they are attached to the ground they cannot become prohibited?) Because a person's hand is involved (as he plants it). (But according to the first Tana, it is only prohibited if it was originally planted as an idol.)

(R. Akiva): I will explain the pasuk to you - wherever you find a tall mountain or elevated hill or flourishing tree, you should know that you will find there an idol. (How do we know that an Asheirah is prohibited, unlike a mountain or hill? Because the pasuk states (Devarim 12:3), "and you shall burn their Asheiras in fire".)

(Gemara) (R. Zeira/ R. Yasa/ R. Yosi ben Chanina citing R. Hoshiyah): One pasuk states (Devarim 7:25; in reference to adornments of idols), "You shall not desire the silver and gold upon them, and take it." And another pasuk states (Devarim 29:16; in reference to gifts to idols), "gold and silver that is with them" Must an item be 'upon them' (an adornment) to become prohibited or even if it is 'with them' (a gift) it becomes prohibited?

Answer: (These two pesukim teach that) just as 'upon them' (adornments) is something that is especially for them, and adorns them, so too 'with them' (gifts) refers to something that is especially for them and adorns them.

(R. Yochanan citing R. Yannai): This only applies outside of the curtain denoting the inner chamber of the idol, but inside the curtain, even if it is not an adornment, it is prohibited; for example, if it was given a pouch of money.

(R. Yasa): There is a tradition that R. Hoshiyah's teaching (above (e)) disagrees with R. Yannai (above (g)). However, this is incorrect, as we have a tradition that R. Hoshiyah supports R. Yannai...just as 'upon them' is especially for them and is an adornment; so too 'with them' - this excludes pouches of money from being prohibited.

(R. Ba citing Rav Yehuda): Even water and salt (that is brought inside the curtain before the idol is prohibited). Why is this? (Both can be used to serve the idol) - salt can be used to scatter before the idol and water can be used to wash the ground.

So what is the purpose of the word 'even'? Rather, they are just examples of items that become prohibited when they are brought to serve the idol. (Note: Several Rishonim add this wording to the text.)

If a person worshipped someone's animal, one Beraisa teaches that whether the owner or another person worshipped it, it is prohibited. This was said by R. Yehuda. Another Beraisa teaches that if it was his, it is prohibited, but if another person worshipped it, it is permitted. This was said by R. Yosi and R. Shimon (who say that a person cannot prohibit that which is not his).

Rebuttal (R. Yosi citing R. Ila): All agree that one who worships someone's animal can prohibit it, as it is taught in Maseches Temurah, that even though if someone would bow down to an animal, it does not become prohibited to an ordinary person, it is nevertheless prohibited to be brought as a sacrifice. Similarly, to worship something that is not yours, even though it does not become prohibited to an ordinary person, it is nevertheless prohibited as a sacrifice.

(R. Bun bar Chiya): (Not only if a person worshipped wheat and then ground it into fine flour, it is permitted, but) even if he worshipped his fine flour, it is prohibited only if he worshipped his own flour, but if he used his friend's flour, it is permitted.

What did he mean? Is he saying that one could say that the Tannaim disagree as to whether the law that one can prohibit another person's property is only regarding animals or even other property; and R. Bun bar Chiya came to teach that the law only applies to animals.

Or perhaps R. Bun explains that according to the one who permits an item worshipped by another, that is specifically concerning an inanimate object, but as for an animal, all agree that one prohibits another person's animal by worshipping it.

Question: According to either possibility, if one prohibits an animal, all the more so that he should prohibit an inanimate object?

Answer: R. Bun bar Chiya was coming to reject the statement of R. Yosi from R. Ila (above (b)) who said that as for an animal that was worshipped, even though it is not prohibited to an ordinary person, it is prohibited as a sacrifice etc.

If one bowed down to a Baitzah - Chizkiyah said that his act does not prohibit it; R. Yochanan said that it prohibits.

(R. Zeirah): This disagreement is over a Beitzah - an egg.

(Chevraya): This disagreement is over smooth stones found in a river. (A Bitzah is translated as a marsh.)

(Rav Huna): There is a pasuk that supports the Chevraya (in Yishayah 57:6), "Smooth stones of the river are your portion, only they are your lot". (They would worship those stones.)

Chizkiyah brings a proof from the Beraisa - Why is an Asheirah prohibited? Because it has in it the contribution of man and anything that has the contribution of man is prohibited.

All agree that if standing wheat is worshipped, it is prohibited. (Since it is ready to be cut down, it is viewed as if it was already cut down.)

(R. Chaninah bar Yasa cited R. Yehuda): Wheat roots can cut down through the earth 50 amos and soft fig-tree roots can cut through rock.

(Beraisa) (R. Shimon ben Elazar): This teaches that the earth only drinks according to its texture (as if it is tough, the rains will not reach the roots). (Note: This entry is relocated from below by the Pnei Moshe, based on the text in Berachos Yerushalmi.)

Question: If so, what can the roots of the carob tree and the sycamore tree do (to receive water, if they are so deep in the ground)?

Answer (R. Chaninah): Once in 30 days, the lower waters rise up and water them. What is the source for this? (Yeshayah 27:3), "I am Hash-m Who guards it; I water it frequently".

If an egg was worshipped and it hatched into a chick...R. Chagai citing R. Yashiyah said that there is a dispute about it between Kahana and Chizkiyah - Kahana said that it is permitted (as the egg rots before the chick is formed there, so there is nothing left to prohibit); Chizkiyah said that it is prohibited (as he is nevertheless considered to be benefitting from a prohibited item).

Question against Chizkiyah: How could the chick be prohibited if Chizkiyah said (above (h),(i)) that an egg cannot become prohibited by bowing down to it?

What is the case? If he broke the egg before the idol, there will be no chick produced; if it was merely brought inside the inner room and he bowed down to the egg, it does not prohibit and how could merely bringing it inside the inner room prohibit?

Answer (R. Yudan, father of R. Matanyah): He used the egg to plug up a hole in the partition that separates the inner room from the outer room.

A walnut of Orlah (fruits that grow within the first three years of the life of a tree are called Orlah, and it is prohibited to gain benefit from them) that was planted; similarly, a consecrated egg that hatched -

R. Yasa said that Kahana and R. Yochanan disputed this case. Kahana said that it is prohibited and R. Yochanan said that it is permitted.

(R. Zeira to R. Yasa): Even R. Yochanan who said that it was permitted requires redeeming it according to the value of the egg and not the current value of the chick.

(R. Chananyah, R. Yona, R. Elazar citing Kahana): One redeems it according to the value of the egg.

(R. Chananyah citing R. Pinchas): (If so, there is no dispute, as both Kahana and R. Yochanan agree that one must redeem it according to the value of the egg; rather) Kahana said that it is prohibited and one redeems the chick according to its current value;

And R. Yochanan said that the chick is like Hekdesh that grew and it is redeemed according the value of an egg (which would parallel the time of planting of Hekdesh seeds).