15. “How is the tree to be desecrated?” “Has the idolater broken off dry bark, or green boughs; has he taken from it a staff, or a twig, or even a leaf—it is desecrated.” “Has he trimmed it for the sake of the tree?” “It is forbidden.” “Has he trimmed it, but not for the sake of the tree?” “It is allowed.”
1. Rabbi Ishmael said, “three stones(458) beside each other at the side of the image of Mercury are forbidden, but two are allowed.” But the Sages say, “when they are within his view they are forbidden, but when they are not within his view they are allowed.”
2. “Has one found money on his head, a garment, or implements which are not offerings?” “They are allowed.” Festoons of grapes, wreaths of ears of corn, and wines, and oils, and fine flour, and everything similar offered on his altar are forbidden.
3. A garden or a bath for idolatry is permitted for use when it is gratuitous. But neither is to be used if a present for the worship of the idol be expected. If it be in partnership with others that are not so employed, either can be used, whether it be with the expectation of a present or gratuitous. The idol of idolaters is at once forbidden, but the idol of Israel is not forbidden until it be served.
4. An idolater may desecrate his own idol, or the idol of his companion. But Israel must not desecrate the idol of an idolater. In desecrating the idol he desecrates what appertains to it. “Has he desecrated what appertains to it?” “What appertains to it is allowed, but the idol itself is forbidden.”
5. “How is it to be desecrated?” “He cuts off the lobe of its ear, the tip of its nose, the end of its finger—he deforms even though he does not diminish it—it is desecrated.” “He spits before it, he drags it, and throws dirt upon it?” “It is not desecrated.” “Has he sold it or pledged it?” Rabbi says, “it is desecrated.” But the Sages say, “it is not desecrated.”
6. The idol, the service of which is abandoned in the time of peace, is allowed. “But if its service be abandoned in time of war?” “It is forbidden.”(459) The royal pedestals(460) are forbidden, because they are erected at the time when kings are travelling.
7. The elders were asked in Rome, “If God has no pleasure in idolatry, why does He not destroy it?” They replied to the Romans, “If the idolaters were serving a thing which was not necessary to the world, He would destroy it, but they serve the sun-disk, and the moon, and the stars, and the signs of the zodiac. Shall he destroy his world on account of the fools?” They replied to them, “If so He can destroy the object which is not wanted for the world, and leave that which the world wants.” They replied to them, “even we should be strengthening the hands of the worshippers of such objects; they would say, there is a proof that they are gods, because they are not destroyed.”