Foreign Worship and Customs of the Nations Chapter 8

כָּל שֶׁאֵין בּוֹ תְּפִיסַת יַד אָדָם וְלֹא עֲשָׂהוּ אָדָם אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁנֶּעֱבַד הֲרֵי זֶה מֻתָּר בַּהֲנָאָה. לְפִיכָךְ עוֹבְדֵי כּוֹכָבִים הָעוֹבְדִים אֶת הֶהָרִים וְאֶת הַגְּבָעוֹת וְאֶת הָאִילָנוֹת הַנְּטוּעִין מִתְּחִלָּתָן לְפֵרוֹת וְאֶת הַמַּעְיָנוֹת הַנּוֹבְעִין לָרַבִּים וְאֶת הַבְּהֵמָה הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ מֻתָּרִין בַּהֲנָאָה וּמֻתָּר לֶאֱכל אוֹתָן הַפֵּרוֹת שֶׁנֶּעֶבְדוּ בִּמְקוֹם גְּדִילָתָן וְאוֹתָהּ הַבְּהֵמָה. וְאֵין צָרִיךְ לוֹמַר הַבְּהֵמָה שֶׁהֻקְצַת לַעֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים שֶׁהִיא מֻתֶּרֶת בַּאֲכִילָה בֵּין שֶׁהִקְצוּהָ לְעָבְדָהּ בֵּין שֶׁהִקְצוּהָ לְהַקְרִיבָהּ הֲרֵי זוֹ מֻתֶּרֶת. בַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים שֶׁאֵין הַבְּהֵמָה נֶאֱסֶרֶת בְּשֶׁלֹּא עָשָׂה בָּהּ מַעֲשֶׂה לְשֵׁם עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים אֲבָל עָשָׂה בָּהּ מַעֲשֶׂה כָּל שֶׁהוּא אֲסָרָהּ. כֵּיצַד, כְּגוֹן שֶׁשָּׁחַט בָּהּ סִימָן לַעֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים. עֲשָׂאָהּ חֲלִיפִין לַעֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים אֲסָרָהּ. וְכֵן חֲלִיפֵי חֲלִיפִין. מִפְּנֵי שֶׁנַּעֲשִׂים דְּמֵי עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים. בַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים בְּבֶהֱמַת עַצְמוֹ. אֲבָל אִם שָׁחַט בֶּהֱמַת חֲבֵרוֹ לַעֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים אוֹ הֶחֱלִיפָהּ לֹא נֶאֶסְרָה שֶׁאֵין אָדָם אוֹסֵר דָּבָר שֶׁאֵינוֹ שֶׁלּוֹ. הַמִּשְׁתַּחֲוֶה לְקַרְקַע עוֹלָם לֹא אֲסָרָהּ. חָפַר בָּהּ בּוֹרוֹת שִׁיחִין וּמְעָרוֹת לְשֵׁם עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים אֲסָרָהּ:

It is permitted to derive benefit from anything that has not been manipulated by man or that was not made by man, even though it was worshiped [as a deity]. Therefore, it is permitted to benefit from mountains, hills, trees - provided they were planted originally with the intent of harvesting their fruit - springs which provide water for many people, and animals, despite their having been worshiped by pagans. It is permitted to partake of fruits that were worshiped in the place where they grow and to partake of such an animal. Needless to say, it is permitted to partake of an animal that was set aside for the purpose of idol worship. It is permitted regardless of whether it was set aside to be worshiped or to be sacrificed [to another deity]. When do the above statements permitting the use of an animal apply? When a deed involving it was not committed for the sake of idol worship. If, however, any deed whatsoever was committed involving it, it is forbidden; for example, one cut one of its signs for the sake of an idol. Should one exchange it for an idol, it is forbidden. Similarly, it is forbidden if it was exchanged for an article that was itself exchanged for an idol, since the latter article is considered to be "payment for an idol." When does the above apply? Regarding one's own animal. If, however, one slaughtered a colleague's animal for the sake of a false deity, or exchanged it for an idol, it does not become forbidden, because a person cannot cause an article that does not belong to him to become forbidden. When a person bows down to virgin earth, he does not cause it to become forbidden. If he digs pits, channels, and caverns in it for the sake of a false deity, it becomes forbidden.

מַיִם שֶׁעֲקָרָן הַגַּל וְהִשְׁתַּחֲוָה לָהֶן לֹא אֲסָרָן. נְטָלָן בְּיָדוֹ וְהִשְׁתַּחֲוָה לָהֶן אֲסָרָן. אַבְנֵי הַר שֶׁנִּדַּלְדְּלוּ וַעֲבָדָן בִּמְקוֹמָם מֻתָּרוֹת שֶׁהֲרֵי אֵין בָּהֶן תְּפִיסַת יַד אָדָם:

When a person bows down to water which was lifted up by a wave, he does not cause [the water] to become forbidden. If, however, he picked [water] up with his hands and bowed down to it, it becomes forbidden. If rocks which had slid down from a mountain were worshiped in the place where they [landed], they are permitted, since they were not manipulated by man.

יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁזָּקַף לְבֵנָה לְהִשְׁתַּחֲווֹת לָהּ וְלֹא הִשְׁתַּחֲוָה לָהּ וּבָא עוֹבֵד כּוֹכָבִים וְהִשְׁתַּחֲוָה לָהּ אֲסָרָהּ בַּהֲנָאָה שֶׁזְּקִיפָתָהּ מַעֲשֶׂה. וְכֵן אִם זָקַף בֵּיצָה וּבָא עוֹבֵד כּוֹכָבִים וְהִשְׁתַּחֲוָה לָהּ אֲסָרָהּ. חָתַךְ דְּלַעַת וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָּהּ וְהִשְׁתַּחֲוָה לָהּ אֲסָרָהּ. הִשְׁתַּחֲוָה לַחֲצִי דְּלַעַת וַחֲצִי הָאַחֵר מְעֹרֶה בּוֹ הֲרֵי זֶה אָסוּר מִסָּפֵק שֶׁמָּא זֶה הַחֵצִי כְּמוֹ יָד לַחֵצִי הַנֶּעֱבָד. אִילָן שֶׁנְּטָעוֹ מִתְּחִלָּה שֶׁיִּהְיֶה נֶעֱבָד אָסוּר בַּהֲנָאָה וְזוֹ הִיא אֲשֵׁרָה הָאֲמוּרָה בַּתּוֹרָה. הָיָה אִילָן נָטוּעַ וּגְדָעוֹ וּפְסָלוֹ לְשֵׁם עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים אֲפִלּוּ הִבְרִיךְ וְהִרְכִּיב בְּגוּפוֹ שֶׁל אִילָן וְהוֹצִיא שָׂרִיגִים כּוֹרֵת אֶת הַשָּׂרִיגִים וְהֵם אֲסוּרִים בַּהֲנָאָה וּשְׁאָר הָאִילָן מֻתָּר. וְכֵן הַמִּשְׁתַּחֲוֶה לְאִילָן אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁלֹּא נֶאֱסַר גּוּפוֹ כָּל הַשָּׂרִיגִים וְהֶעָלִים וְהַלּוּלָבִין וְהַפֵּרוֹת שֶׁיּוֹצִיא כָּל זְמַן שֶׁהוּא נֶעֱבָד הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ אֲסוּרִין בַּהֲנָאָה. אִילָן שֶׁהָיוּ הָעוֹבְדֵי כּוֹכָבִים מְשַׁמְּרִין אֶת פֵּרוֹתָיו וְאוֹמְרִים שֶׁהֵם מוּכָנִים לַעֲשׂוֹת שֵׁכָר לְבֵית עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים פְּלוֹנִי וְעוֹשִׂין מֵהֶן שֵׁכָר וְשׁוֹתִים אוֹתוֹ בְּיוֹם חַגָּם הֲרֵי זֶה הָאִילָן אָסוּר בַּהֲנָאָה מִפְּנֵי שֶׁסְּתָמוֹ שֶׁהוּא אֲשֵׁרָה וּלְפִיכָךְ עוֹשִׂין בְּפֵרוֹתָיו כָּךְ שֶׁזּוֹ הִיא חֻקָּהּ שֶׁל אֲשֵׁרָה:

When a Jew stands a brick up with the intention of bowing down to it, but does not bow down to it, and then a gentile comes and bows down to it, benefit from [the brick] becomes forbidden, because standing it up is considered to be a deed. Similarly, if he stands an egg up and a gentile comes and bows down to it, it becomes forbidden. If one cuts off a gourd or the like and bows down to it, it is forbidden. Even when one bows down to only half the gourd, and the other half is still attached to it, it is forbidden because of the doubt involved: perhaps the second half is considered to be a handle for the half which was worshiped. It is forbidden to benefit from a tree which was planted for the purpose of being worshiped. This is the asherah that the Torah mentions. When a tree which had been planted previously was pruned and carved for the sake of idol worship - even if it was extended or a growth was grafted onto the trunk of the tree - and branches grew, one must cut off [these] branches, and benefit from them is forbidden. The remainder of the tree, however, is permitted. Similarly, when a person bows down to a tree, even though the tree itself is not forbidden, it is forbidden to benefit from all the branches, leaves, sprouts, and fruits which it produces during the time it is worshiped. When gentiles guard the fruits of a tree and say that they are designated to be used to make alcoholic beverages for a particular pagan temple, and [the fruits] are used for alcoholic beverages which are drunken on their pagan holidays, it is forbidden to benefit from this tree. This is the ritual associated with an asherah. Accordingly, we can assume that [the tree] is an asherah, and therefore its fruits will be used for such purposes.

אִילָן שֶׁמַּעֲמִידִין תַּחְתָּיו עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים כָּל זְמַן שֶׁהִיא תַּחְתָּיו אָסוּר בַּהֲנָאָה. נְטָלָהּ מִתַּחְתָּיו הֲרֵי זֶה מֻתָּר מִפְּנֵי שֶׁאֵין הָאִילָן עַצְמוֹ הוּא הַנֶּעֱבָד. בַּיִת שֶׁבְּנָאוֹ הָעוֹבֵד כּוֹכָבִים מִתְּחִלָּה שֶׁיְּהֵא הַבַּיִת עַצְמוֹ נֶעֱבָד וְכֵן הַמִּשְׁתַּחֲוֶה לְבַיִת בָּנוּי הֲרֵי זֶה אָסוּר בַּהֲנָאָה. הָיָה בָּנוּי וְסִיְּדוֹ וְכִיְּרוֹ לְשֵׁם עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים עַד שֶׁנִּתְחַדֵּשׁ נוֹטֵל מַה שֶּׁחִדֵּשׁ וְהַחִדּוּשׁ אָסוּר בַּהֲנָאָה מִפְּנֵי שֶׁעֲשָׂאָהוּ לְעָבְדוֹ וּשְׁאָר הַבַּיִת מֻתָּר. הִכְנִיס עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים לְתוֹךְ הַבַּיִת כָּל זְמַן שֶׁהִיא שָׁם הַבַּיִת אָסוּר בַּהֲנָאָה. הוֹצִיאָהּ הֻתַּר הַבַּיִת. וְכֵן אֶבֶן שֶׁחֲצָבָהּ מִתְּחִלָּה לְעָבְדָהּ אֲסוּרָה בַּהֲנָאָה. הָיְתָה חֲצוּבָה וְצִיְּרָהּ וְכִיְּרָהּ שֶׁתֵּעָבֵד אֲפִלּוּ צִיֵּר וְכִיֵּר בְּגוּף הָאֶבֶן וְאֵין צָרִיךְ לוֹמַר אִם כִּיֵּר עָלֶיהָ נוֹטֵל מַה שֶּׁחִדֵּשׁ וְהוּא אָסוּר בַּהֲנָאָה הוֹאִיל וְנַעֲשָׂה שֶׁיֵּעָבֵד וּשְׁאָר הָאֶבֶן מֻתָּר:

[The following rules apply to] a tree under which a false deity was placed: It is forbidden to benefit from it as long as the deity is located under it. When it is removed, we are permitted [to benefit] from it, since the tree itself is not the entity which was worshiped. When a gentile constructs a building with the intention that the building itself be worshiped, and, similarly, when a person bows down to a building that has already been constructed, they become forbidden. When a [building] which had already been constructed, was plastered and embellished for the sake of worship to the extent that it is considered to be a new entity, one must remove all the new additions, and it is forbidden to benefit from them, since they were made with the intention of being worshiped. It is, however, permitted to benefit from the remainder of the building. If one placed an idol within a house, it is forbidden to benefit from the house while the idol is located within. When it is removed, the house becomes permitted. Similarly, it is forbidden to benefit from a stone which was hewn from a mountain with the intention that it be worshiped. If it had already been hewn out, but was adorned and embellished with the intention that it be worshiped - even if the stone itself was adorned and embellished and, needless to say, if the adornment was added to it - one must remove all the new additions, and it is forbidden to benefit from them, since they were made with the intention of being worshiped. It is, however, permitted to benefit from the remainder of the stone.

אֶבֶן שֶׁהֶעֱמִיד עָלֶיהָ עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים הֲרֵי זוֹ אֲסוּרָה כָּל זְמַן שֶׁהִיא עָלֶיהָ. סֻלְּקָה הָאֶבֶן מֻתֶּרֶת. מִי שֶׁהָיָה בֵּיתוֹ סָמוּךְ לַעֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים וְנָפַל אָסוּר לִבְנוֹתוֹ. כֵּיצַד יַעֲשֶׂה. כּוֹנֵס לְתוֹךְ שֶׁלּוֹ וּבוֹנֶה וְאוֹתוֹ הָרֶוַח מְמַלְּאֵהוּ קוֹצִים אוֹ צוֹאָה. כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יַרְחִיב לְבֵית עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים. הָיָה הַכֹּתֶל שֶׁלּוֹ וְשֶׁל עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים יִדּוֹן מֶחֱצָה לְמֶחֱצָה, מֶחֱצָה שֶׁלּוֹ מֻתָּר בַּהֲנָאָה וְשֶׁל עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים הַכּל אָסוּר בַּהֲנָאָה. אֲבָנָיו עֵצָיו וַעֲפָרוֹ הַכּל אָסוּר בַּהֲנָאָה:

A stone on which an idol is placed is forbidden as long as the idol is upon it. Once [the idol] is removed, it is permitted. When a person's house which is located next to [a shrine of] an idol falls, it is forbidden for him to rebuild it. What must he do? He must move [the wall] within his own four cubits, and then rebuild it. The empty space must not be left free for the sake of the shrine of the idol. Rather, he should fill it with thorns or feces. If the wall belonged jointly to both a private individual and an idol, it should be considered to belong to them equally. It is permitted to benefit from his half; the [half] belonging to the idol, however, is forbidden. [Similarly,] it is forbidden to benefit from all [the wall's] stones, beams, and earth.

כֵּיצַד מְאַבֵּד עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים וּשְׁאָר דְּבָרִים הָאֲסוּרִים בִּגְלָלָהּ כְּגוֹן מְשַׁמְּשֶׁיהָ וְתִקְרֹבֶת שֶׁלָּהּ. שׁוֹחֵק וְזוֹרֶה לָרוּחַ אוֹ שׂוֹרֵף וּמֵטִיל לְיָם הַמֶּלַח:

How must one destroy a false deity and the other entities which are forbidden on its account - e.g., its accessories and offerings? One must grind them and scatter [the dust] in the wind, or burn them and deposit the ashes in the Dead Sea.

דָּבָר שֶׁאֵין בּוֹ תְּפִיסַת יַד אָדָם שֶׁנֶּעֱבַד כְּגוֹן הָרִים וּבְהֵמָה וְאִילָן אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהַנֶּעֱבָד עַצְמוֹ מֻתָּר בַּהֲנָאָה צִפּוּיוֹ אָסוּר בַּהֲנָאָה וְהַנֶּהֱנֶה בְּכָל שֶׁהוּא מֵהֶן לוֹקֶה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים ז כה) "לֹא תַחְמֹד כֶּסֶף וְזָהָב עֲלֵיהֶם". וְכָל צִפּוּיֵי עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים הֲרֵי הֵן בִּכְלַל מְשַׁמְּשֶׁיהָ:

Although [as mentioned above,] an entity which cannot be manipulated by man - e.g., a mountain, animal, or tree - even when worshiped remains permitted, it is forbidden to benefit from its coatings. A person who derives any benefit from them whatsoever is [liable for] lashes, as [Deuteronomy 7:25] states: "Do not desire the silver and gold which are upon them." Any coating of a false deity is considered to be one of its accessories.

עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים שֶׁל עוֹבְדֵי כּוֹכָבִים שֶׁבִּטְּלוּהָ קֹדֶם שֶׁתָּבוֹא לִידֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל הֲרֵי זוֹ מֻתֶּרֶת בַּהֲנָאָה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים ז כה) "פְּסִילֵי אֱלֹהֵיהֶם תִּשְׂרְפוּן בָּאֵשׁ", כְּשֶׁבָּאוּ לְיָדֵינוּ וְהֵן נוֹהֲגִין בָּהֶם אֱלֹהוּת, אֲבָל אִם בִּטְּלוּם הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ מֻתָּרִין:

It is permitted to benefit from a false deity belonging to a gentile whose deification was nullified [by gentiles] before it entered the possession of a Jew, as [Deuteronomy, ibid.] states, "You must burn the statues of their gods with fire." [This command applies] only if they are treated as gods when they enter our possession. If, however, their deification was nullified, they are permitted.

עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל אֵינָהּ בְּטֵלָה לְעוֹלָם אֲפִלּוּ הָיָה לְעוֹבֵד כּוֹכָבִים בָּהּ שֻׁתָּפוּת אֵין בִּטּוּלוֹ מוֹעִיל כְּלוּם אֶלָּא אֲסוּרָה בַּהֲנָאָה לְעוֹלָם וּטְעוּנָה גְּנִיזָה. וְכֵן עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים שֶׁל עוֹבֵד כּוֹכָבִים שֶׁבָּאת לְיַד יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאַחַר כָּךְ בִּטְּלָהּ הָעוֹבֵד כּוֹכָבִים אֵין בִּטּוּלוֹ מוֹעִיל כְּלוּם אֶלָּא אֲסוּרָה בַּהֲנָאָה לְעוֹלָם. וְאֵין יִשְׂרָאֵל מְבַטֵּל עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים וַאֲפִלּוּ בִּרְשׁוּת עוֹבֵד כּוֹכָבִים. עוֹבֵד כּוֹכָבִים קָטָן אוֹ שׁוֹטֶה אֵינוֹ מְבַטֵּל עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים. וְעוֹבֵד כּוֹכָבִים שֶׁבִּטֵּל עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים בֵּין שֶׁלּוֹ בֵּין שֶׁל עוֹבְדֵי כּוֹכָבִים אֲחֵרִים בְּעַל כָּרְחוֹ אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֲנָסוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל עַל כָּךְ הֲרֵי זוֹ בְּטֵלָה. וּבִלְבַד שֶׁיְּהֵא הָעוֹבֵד כּוֹכָבִים הַמְבַטֵּל עוֹבֵד עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים. אֲבָל מִי שֶׁאֵינוֹ עוֹבֵד עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים אֵין בִּטּוּלוֹ בִּטּוּל. הַמְבַטֵּל עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים בִּטֵּל מְשַׁמְּשֶׁיהָ. בִּטֵּל מְשַׁמְּשֶׁיהָ מְשַׁמְּשֶׁיהָ מֻתָּרִים וְהִיא אֲסוּרָה בַּהֲנָאָה כְּמוֹ שֶׁהָיְתָה עַד שֶׁיְּבַטְּלֶנָּה. וְתִקְרֹבֶת עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים אֵינָהּ בְּטֵלָה לְעוֹלָם:

A false deity belonging to a Jew can never be nullified. Even if he owns it in partnership with a gentile, its nullification is of no consequence. Rather, it is forbidden to benefit from it forever, and it must be entombed. Similarly, when a false deity belonging to a gentile enters the possession of a Jew, and then is nullified by a gentile, the nullification is of no consequence, and it is forbidden to benefit from it forever. A Jew cannot nullify a false deity even when it is in the possession of a gentile. A gentile who is a minor or a fool cannot nullify a false deity. When a gentile is forced to nullify a false deity - whether it belongs to him or to other gentiles, even when he is forced to do so by Jews - the nullification is of consequence. The gentile who nullifies idol worship must himself be an idolater. If he is not an idolater, his nullification is of no consequence. When [a gentile] nullifies a false deity, he also nullifies [the connection to idol worship of] its accessories. When he nullifies [the connection to idol worship of] its accessories, it is permitted to benefit from the accessories. [The deity] itself, however, remains forbidden until it is nullified. [The connection to idol worship of] an object that was brought to an idol as an offering can never be nullified.

כֵּיצַד מְבַטְּלָהּ. קָטַע רֹאשׁ חָטְמָהּ רֹאשׁ אָזְנָהּ רֹאשׁ אֶצְבָּעָהּ פָּחֲסָה בְּפָנֶיהָ אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁלֹּא חִסְּרָהּ אוֹ שֶׁמְּכָרָהּ לְצוֹרֵף יִשְׂרָאֵל הֲרֵי זוֹ בְּטֵלָה. אֲבָל אִם מִשְׁכְּנָהּ אוֹ מְכָרָהּ לְעוֹבֵד כּוֹכָבִים אוֹ לְיִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁאֵינוֹ צוֹרֵף אוֹ שֶׁנָּפְלָה עָלֶיהָ מַפּלֶת וְלֹא פִּנָּה. גְּנָבוּהָ לִסְטִים וְלֹא תְּבָעוּהָ. רָקַק בְּפָנֶיהָ. הִשְׁתִּין בְּפָנֶיהָ. גְּרָרָהּ. זָרַק בָּהּ אֶת הַצּוֹאָה הֲרֵי זוֹ אֵינָהּ בְּטֵלָה:

How is [an idol] nullified? When one cuts off the tip of its nose, the tip of its ear, or the tip of its finger, smoothes out its face - even though none of its substance was destroyed - or sells it to a Jewish jeweler, it is nullified. If, however, one gave it as security for a loan, sold it to a gentile, [sold it] to a Jew who is not a jeweler, [left it] after it was covered by fallen articles without removing them, did not demand its return after it was stolen by thieves, spat in its face, urinated upon it, dragged it [in mud], or threw feces upon it, it is not nullified.

עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים שֶׁהֱנִיחוּהָ עוֹבְדֶיהָ בִּשְׁעַת שָׁלוֹם מֻתֶּרֶת בַּהֲנָאָה שֶׁהֲרֵי בִּטְּלוּהָ. בִּשְׁעַת מִלְחָמָה אֲסוּרָה מִפְּנֵי שֶׁלֹּא הֱנִיחוּהָ אֶלָּא מִפְּנֵי הַמִּלְחָמָה. עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים שֶׁנִּשְׁבְּרָה מֵאֵלֶיהָ שְׁבָרֶיהָ אֲסוּרִים בַּהֲנָאָה עַד שֶׁיְּבַטְּלוּהָ. לְפִיכָךְ הַמּוֹצֵא שִׁבְרֵי עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ אֲסוּרִין בַּהֲנָאָה שֶׁמָּא לֹא בִּטְּלוּהָ הָעוֹבְדֵי כּוֹכָבִים. וְאִם הָיְתָה שֶׁל פְּרָקִים וְהֶדְיוֹט יָכוֹל לְהַחֲזִירָם צָרִיךְ לְבַטֵּל כָּל פֶּרֶק וּפֶרֶק מִפְּרָקֶיהָ וְאִם אֵינוֹ יָכוֹל לְהַחֲזִיר כֵּיוָן שֶׁבִּטֵּל אֵיבָר אֶחָד מִמֶּנָּה בָּטְלוּ כָּל הַשְּׁבָרִים:

When a false deity was abandoned by its worshipers in a time of peace, it is apparent that they nullified it. Hence, benefit may be derived from it. [If it was abandoned] in a time of war, it is forbidden. The only reason they abandoned it was the war. When a false deity becomes broken in the course of nature, it is forbidden to benefit from its broken pieces until they have been nullified. Accordingly, when a person finds broken pieces of an idol, [he must regard them] as forbidden, lest the gentiles have not nullified them. [The following principles apply to an idol] which comes in pieces: If it could be reassembled by an ordinary person, each piece must be nullified individually. If [an ordinary person] could not reassemble it, once one has nullified one of its limbs, all of them are nullified.

מִזְבַּח עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים שֶׁנִּפְגַּם עֲדַיִן הוּא אָסוּר בַּהֲנָאָה עַד שֶׁיִּנָּתֵץ רֻבּוֹ בְּיַד עוֹבֵד כּוֹכָבִים. וּבִימוֹס שֶׁנִּפְגַּם מֻתָּר. אֵי זֶהוּ בִּימוֹס וְאֵי זֶהוּ מִזְבֵּחַ. בִּימוֹס אֶבֶן אַחַת. מִזְבֵּחַ אֲבָנִים הַרְבֵּה. וְכֵיצַד מְבַטְּלִין אַבְנֵי מַרְקוּלִיס. כֵּיוָן שֶׁבָּנָה מֵהֶם בִּנְיָן אוֹ חִפָּה בָּהֶן אֶת הַדְּרָכִים וְכַיּוֹצֵא בְּאֵלּוּ הֲרֵי הֵן מֻתָּרִים בַּהֲנָאָה. כֵּיצַד מְבַטְּלִים אֶת הָאֲשֵׁרָה. קִרְסֵם מִמֶּנָּה עָלֶה אוֹ זָרַק מִמֶּנָּה יוֹנֵק נָטַל מִמֶּנָּה מַקֵּל אוֹ שַׁרְבִיט אוֹ שֶׁשְּׁפָאָהּ שֶׁלֹּא לְצָרְכָּהּ הֲרֵי זוֹ בְּטֵלָה. שְׁפָאָהּ לְצָרְכָּהּ הִיא אֲסוּרָה וּשְׁפָאֶיהָ מֻתָּרִים. וְאִם הָיְתָה שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל בֵּין לְצָרְכָּהּ בֵּין שֶׁלֹּא לְצָרְכָּהּ בֵּין הִיא וּבֵין שְׁפָאֶיהָ אֲסוּרָה לְעוֹלָם שֶׁעֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל אֵין לָהּ בִּטּוּל לְעוֹלָם:

Though an altar for idol worship has been damaged, it is still forbidden to benefit from it until the majority of it has been destroyed by gentiles. A platform which has been damaged is permitted. What is considered a platform, and what, an altar? A platform consists of a single stone; an altar, of many stones. How are the stones of Marculis nullified? When one constructs a building from them or uses them to pave the roads or the like, it is permitted to benefit from them. How is an asherah nullified? When one pulls off a leaf, cuts off a branch, takes a staff or scepter from it, or planes off its sides in a manner which does not benefit it, it is nullified. When one planes its sides in a manner which benefits it, it is forbidden, but its shavings are permitted. If [the sides of] an asherah which belongs to a Jew [are planed off], both it and its shavings are forbidden forever, regardless of whether [it was planed] for its benefit or not, because a false deity belonging to a Jew can never be nullified.