Jerusalem Talmud Sanhedrin 7.10

משנה: הַנּוֹתֵן מִזַּרְעוֹ לַמּוֹלֶךְ אֵינוֹ חַיָיב עַד שֶׁיִּמְסוֹר לַמּוֹלֶךְ וְיַעֲבִיר בָּאֵשׁ. מָסַר לַמּוֹלֶךְ וְלֹא הֶעֱבִיר בָּאֵשׁ. הֶעֱבִיר בָּאֵשׁ וְלֹא מָסַר לַמּוֹלֶךְ אֵינוֹ חַיָיב עַד שֶׁיִּמְסוֹר לַמּוֹלֶךְ וְיַעֲבִיר בָּאֵשׁ. בַּעַל אוֹב זֶה פִיתוֹם וְהַמְדַבֵּר מִשֶּׁחְיוֹ וְיִדְּעוֹנִי זֶה הַמְדַבֵּר בְּפִיו. הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ בִסְקִילָה וְהַנִּשְׁאָל בָּהֶן בְּאַזְהָרָה:

MISHNAH: One who gives any of his descendants to the Moloch is only guilty if he delivers him to the Moloch and makes him pass through fire. If he delivered him to the Moloch but did not make him pass through fire, or made him pass though fire but did not deliver him to the Moloch, is only guilty if he delivers him to the Moloch and makes him pass through fire. The necromancer is the Πύθων and one who speaks from his armpit. The medium speaks through his mouth. These are stoned but one who consults them is forewarned.

הלכה: הַנּוֹתֵן מִזַּרְעוֹ לַמּוֹלֶךְ. אַזְהָרָה לַנּוֹתֵן מִזַּרְעוֹ לַמּוֹלֶךְ מְנַיִין. וּמִזַּרְעֲךָ לֹא תִתֵּן לְהַעֲבִיר לַמּוֹלֶךְ. כָּרֵת מְנַיִין. כִּי מִזַּרְעוֹ נָתַן לַמּוֹלֶךְ וְנִכְרְתָה. עוֹנֶשׁ מְנַיִין. אִישׁ אִישׁ מִבְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וּמִן הַגֵּר הַגָּר בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל אֲשֶׁר יִתֵּן מִּזַּרְעוֹ לַמּוֹלֶךְ מוֹת יוּמָת עַם הָאָרֶץ יִרְגְּמוּהוּ בָאָבֶן. וּמִזַּרְעֲךָ לֹא תִתֵּן. יָכוֹל אֲפִילוּ מָסַר וְלֹא הֶעֱבִיר יְהֵא חַיָיב. תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר וּמִזַּרְעֲךָ לֹא תִתֵּן לְהַעֲבִיר. יָכוֹל אֲפִילוּ מָסַר וְהֶעֱבִיר שֶׁלֹּא לַמּוֹלֶךְ יְהֵא חַיָיב. תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר וּמִזַּרְעֲךָ לֹא תִתֵּן לְהַעֲבִיר לַמּוֹלֶךְ. יָכוֹל אֲפִילוּ מָסַר וְהֶעֱבִיר לַמּוֹלֶךְ שֶׁלֹּא בָאֵשׁ יְהֵא חַיָיב. תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר לֹא יִמָּצֵא בְךָ מַעֲבִיר בְּנוֹ וּבִתּוֹ בָּאֵשׁ. עֲבָרָה עֲבָרָה לִגְזֵירָה שָׁוָה. מָה הָעֲבָרָה שֶׁנֶאֶמְרָה לְהַלָּן בָּאֵשׁ אַף כָּאן בָּאֵשׁ. נִמְצֵאתָה אוֹמֵר. לְעוֹלָם אֵינוֹ חַיָיב עַד שֶׁיִּמְסוֹר וְיַעֲבִיר בָּאֵשׁ לַמּוֹלֶךְ. רִבִּי נָסָה בְשֵׁם רִבִּי לָעְזָר. לְעוֹלָם אֵינוֹ מִתְחַיֵיב עַד שֶׁיִּמְסְרֶנּוּ לַכּוֹמָרִים וְיַטִּלֶינּוּ וְיַעֲבִירֶנּוּ. הֶעֱבִירוֹ כְדַרְכּוֹ מָהוּ. תַּנֵּי. הָיָה מוֹשְׁכוֹ וּמַעֲבִירוֹ. תַּנֵּי. הֶעֱבִירוֹ בְרַגְלוֹ פָטוּר. רִבִּי לָעְזָר בֵּירִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן מְחַיֵיב. אֶחָד הַמּוֹלֶךְ וְאֶחָד שְׁאָר עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה. רִבִּי לָעְזָר בֵּירִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אוֹמֵר. אֵינוֹ חַיָיב אֶלָּא לַמּוֹלֶךְ בִּלְבַד. אֵינוֹ חַיָיב אֶלָּא עַל יוֹצְאֵי יְרֵיכוֹ. אָמַר רִבִּי יוֹחָנָן. טַעֲמָא דְרִבִּי לָעְזָר בֵּירִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן מֵהָכָא. לֹא יִמָּצֵא בְךָ בְּגוּפְךָ לֹא יִמָּצֵא מַעֲבִיר. וְהִכְרַתִּי אוֹתוֹ מִקֶּרֶב עַמּוֹ. לְרַבּוֹת שְׁאָר עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה בְהִיכָּרֵת. עוֹנֶשׁ מְנַיִין. מִזַּרְעוֹ נָתַן לַמּוֹלֶךְ מוֹת יוּמָת. והוּא שֶׁהֶעֱבִיר עַצְמוֹ. לֹא בְרַגְלוֹ הוּא עוֹבֵר. מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהֶעֱבִיר אֶת עַצְמוֹ. אֲבָל אִם הָיָה מוֹשֵׁךְ בּוֹ וּמַעֲבִירוֹ חַיָיב. מָה הִיא דְאָמַר רִבִּי לָעְזָר בֵּירִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן. הֶעֱבִירוֹ בְרַגְלוֹ פָטוּר. בְּהוּא דְאֲעַבְרֵיהּ מִזְקָר.

HALAKHAH: “One who gives any of his descendants to the Moloch.” From where a warning not to give any of his descendants to the Moloch? Do not give any of your descendants to the Moloch. Extirpation from where? For he gave one of his descendants to the Molochand shall be extirpated. Punishment from where? Each one of the Children of Israel, or of the sojourner in Israel, who would give any of his descendants to the Moloch shall be made to die; the people of the Land shall smash him with stones. Do not give any of your descendants, I could think that he was guilty if he handed over but did not make him pass; the verse says: Do not give any of your descendants to pass through. I could think that he was guilty if he handed over and made him pass through but not for the Moloch; the verse says: Do not give any of your descendants to pass through for the Moloch. I could think that he was guilty if he handed over and made him pass through for the Moloch but without fire; the verse says: among you, nobody should be found to make his son or his daughter pass through fire. Passing through, passing through as an equal cut. Since “passing through” mentioned there is through fire, so “passing through” mentioned here also is through fire. You have to say that he is not guilty unless he handed over and made him pass through fire for the Moloch. Rebbi Nasa in the name of Rebbi Eleazar: He is guilty only if he hand him over to the priests, takes him, and makes him pass. What if he lets him walk normally? It was stated: one was drawing him and made him pass through. It was stated: if he made him walk through on his feet he is not prosecutable. Rebbi Eleazar ben Rebbi Simeon declares him guilty. Whether for the Moloch or for any other foreign worship; Rebbi Eleazar ben Rebbi Simeon says, he is guilty only for the Moloch, he is guilty only for his descendants. Rebbi Joḥanan said, Rebbi Eleazar ben Rebbi Simeon’s reason is from here: It shall not be found in you, from your body you should not be found making pass through. I shall extirpate him … from among his people. To include all other foreign worship for extirpation. From where punishment? Of his descendants he gave to the Moloch, death he shall be made to die, if he made him pass through himself. Does he not pass through on his feet? Because he made him pass through himself, but if he was drawing him and made him pass through, he is guilty. What does Rebbi Eleazar ben Rebbi Simeon mean, if he made him walk through on his feet he is not prosecutable? He has to make him pass through jumping.

רִבִּי בּוּן בַּר חִיָיה בְּעָא קוֹמֵי רִבִּי זְעִירָא. מְסַר וְלֹא הֶעֱבִיר תַּפְלוּגְתָא דְּחִזְקִיָּה וְדְּרִבִּי יוֹחָנָן. דְאִיתְפָּלְּגוֹן. טָבַח וְלֹא מָכַר. חִזְקִיָּה אָמַר חַיָיב. וְרִבִּי יוֹחָנָן אָמַר פָּטוּר.

Rebbi Abun bar Ḥiyya asked before Rebbi Zeˋira: If he handed over but did not make to pass through, is that the disagreement between Ḥizqiah and Rebbi Joḥanan? Fore they disagreed: If he slaughtered but did not sell, Ḥizqiah said he is liable, but Rebbi Joḥanan said, he is not liable.

רִבִּי בָּא רִבִּי חִיָיה בְשֵׁם רִבִּי יוֹחָנָן. רְאֵה לָשׁוֹן שֶׁלִּימַּדְתָּךְ הַתּוֹרָה. מוֹלֶךְ. כָּל שֶׁתַּמְלִיכֵהוּ עָלֶיךָ. אֲפִילוּ קִיסֵּם אֲפִילוּ צְרוֹר. וְהִכְרַתִּי אוֹתוֹ מִקֶּרֶב עַמּוֹ. לְרַבּוֹת שְׁאָר עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה בְּהִיכָּרֵת. רִבִּי נָסָה בְשֵׁם רִבִּי לָעְזָר. לְרַבּוֹת שְׁאָר עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה לְבָנִים וּלְבָנוֹת. דְּתַנֵּי. אֶחָד הַמּוֹלֶךְ וְאֶחָד שְׁאָר עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה. בֵּין שֶׁעָבְדָהּ בְּבָנִים וּבְבָנוֹת בֵּין שֶׁעָבְדָהּ בְּאָבוֹת וּבְאִמָּהוֹת. חַיָיב. אָמַר רִבִּי זְעִירָה. בְּשֶׁאֵין עֲבוֹדָתָהּ לָכֵן. אֲבָל אִם הָיְתָה עֲבוֹדָתָהּ לָכֵן פָּטוּר. אָמַר רִבִּי הִילָא. אֲפִילוּ עֲבוֹדָתָהּ לָכֵן חַיָיב שְׁתַּיִם. מַתְנִיתָא מְסַיְיעָא לְרִבִּי הִילָא. מוֹלֶךְ בִּכְלַל עוֹבְדֵי עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה הָיָה וְיָצָא לִידוֹן לְהָקֵל עָלָיו שֶׁלֹּא יְהֵא חַיָיב אֶלָּא עַל יוֹצְאֵי יְרֵיכוֹ. אָמַר רִבִּי תַנְחוּם בַּר יִרְמְיָה. אַתְיָיא דְּרִבִּי לָעְזָר בֵּירִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן כְּשִׁיטַּת רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אָבִיו. כְּמָה דְרִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אָמַר. מוֹלֶךְ בִּכְלַל עוֹבְדֵי עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה הָיָה. יָצָא לִידוֹן לְהָקֵל עָלָיו שֶׁלֹּא יְהֵא חַיָיב אֶלָּא עַל יוֹצְאֵי יְרֵיכוֹ. כֵּן רִבִּי לָעְזָר בֵּירִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אָמַר. בִּכְלַל עוֹבְדֵי עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה הָיָה. יָצָא לִידוֹן לְהָקֵל עָלָיו שֶׁלֹּא יְהֵא חַיָיב אֶלָּא עַל יוֹצְאֵי יְרֵיכוֹ.

Rebbi Abba bar Ḥiyya in the name of Rebbi Joḥanan: Look at the expression which the Torah taught you, Moloch; anything that you make king over yourself, even a chip of wood, even a pebble. I shall extirpate him from amidst his people, to include all other foreign worship in extirpation. Rebbi Nasa in the name of Rebbi Eleazar: to include all other foreign worship relating to sons and daughters, as it was stated: He is guilty whether for the Moloch or any other foreign worship, whether he worshipped them with sons and daughters, or worshipped them with fathers and mothers. Rebbi Zeˋira said: if its worship did not prescribe this; but if its worship did prescribe it, he is free from prosecution. Rebbi Hila said, even if its worship did prescribe it, he is twice guilty. A baraita supports Rebbi Hila: The Moloch was included in all other foreign worships; it is mentioned separately to be lenient in this regard that he be guilty only for his descendants. Rebbi Tanḥum bar Jeremiah said, it follows that Rebbi Eleazar ben Rebbi Simeon follows the argument of his father Rebbi Simeon. Just as Rebbi Simeon said, the Moloch was included in all other foreign worships; it is mentioned separately to be lenient in this regard that he be guilty only for his descendants, so Rebbi Eleazar ben Rebbi Simeon said, the Moloch was included in all other foreign worships; it is mentioned separately to be lenient in this regard that he be guilty only for his descendants.

אָמַר רִבִּי תַנְחוּם בַּר יוּדָן. אַף עַל גַּב דְּרִבִּי לָעְזָר בֵּירִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אָמַר. זִיבֵּחַ וְקִיטֵּר נִיסַּךְ בְּהֶעֱלֶם אֶחָד אֵינוֹ חַיָיב אֶלָּא אַחַת. מוֹדֶה שֶׁאִם עָבְדָהּ בַּעֲבוֹדָתָהּ כַּעֲבוֹדַת הָגָּבוֹהַּ בַּעֲבוֹדַת הִשְׁתַּחֲוָיָה שֶׁהוּא חַיָיב עַל כַּל אַחַת וְאַחַת. מְנַיִין שֶׁאִם עָבְדָהּ בַּעֲבוֹדָתָהּ בַּעֲבוֹדַת גָּבוֹהַּ בַּעֲבוֹדַת הִשְׁתַּחֲוָיָה שֶׁהוּא חַיָיב עַל כַּל אַחַת וְאַחַת. רִבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בְּשֵׁם רִבִּי זְעוּרָה. וְלֹא יִזְבְּחוּ עוֹד אֶת זִבְחֵיהֶם לַשְּׂעִירִים. אָמְרוּ לֵיהּ. מַטִּיתְּנָהּ לַקֳּדָשִׁים.

Rebbi Tanḥum ben Yudan said, even though Rebbi Eleazar ben Rebbi Simeon said, if one sacrificed, and burned incense, and poured a libation in one forgetting he is liable only for one; he agrees that if one worshipped it in its proper worship which is identical to the worship of Heaven like prostrating, he is liable for each single action. From where that if one sacrificed, and burned incense, and poured a libation in one forgetting he is liable only for one; he agrees that if one worshipped it in its proper worship which is identical with the worship of Heaven like prostrating, he is liable for each single action? As Rebbi Samuel said in the name of Rebbi Zeˋira: They should not continue to offer their sacrifices to spirits. They said to him, turn and refer it to sacrifices.

רִבִּי יָסָא בְשֵׁם רִבִּי יוֹחָנָן. זִיבֵּחַ לָהּ טָלֶה אֶחָד בַעַל מוּם חַיָיב. מַאי כְדוֹן. כִּדְאָמַר רִבִּי הִילָא. לֹא תַעֲשׂוּן כֵּן לַיי אֱלֹהֵיכֶם. כָּלַּיי אֱלֹהֵיכֶם לֹא תַעֲשׂוּן כֵּן.

Rebbi Yasa in the name of Rebbi Joḥanan: If he sacrificed a defective lamb to it, he is guilty. From where this? As Rebbi Hila said, do not do such to the the Eternal, your God. Anything that be for the Eternal, your God, you may not do.

אָמַר רִבִּי פִינְחָס קוֹמֵי רִבִּי יוֹסֵה בְשֵׁם רָב חִסְדָּא. הָיְתָה עֲבוֹדָתָהּ בַּבָּנִים וּבַבָּנוֹת וְעָבְדָהּ בָּאָבוֹת וּבָאִמָּהוֹת חַיָיב שְׁתַּיִם. וַהֲוָה רִבִּי זְעוּרָה חֲדִי בָהּ. סְבַר מֵימַר. בְּשִׁיטַּת רִבִּי הִילָא רָבֵּיהּ אִיתְאֲמָרַת. וְעַל דְּרִבִּי לָעְזָר בֵּירִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אִיתְאֲמָרַת. אֲמַר לֵיהּ. וּמַה בְיָדָךְ. וְעַל דְּרַבָּנִין אִיתְאֲמָרַת. אֲמַר לֵיהּ. וּלְהָדָא צוֹרְכָת.

Rebbi Phineas said before Rebbi Yose in the name of Rav Ḥisda: If its worship prescribed sons or daughters but he worshipped it with fathers or mothers, he is twice guilty. Rebbi Zeˋira enjoyed this; he thought that this was said following his teacher’s Rebbi Hila’s system and referred to Rebbi Eleazar ben Rebbi Simeon. He told him, what do you have in your hand? It referred to the rabbis! He answered, did you need it for this?

אַזְהָרָה לְבַעַל אוֹב מְנַיִין. אַל תַּפְנוּ אֶל הָאוֹבוֹת. כָּרֵת מְנַיִין. וְהַנֶּפֶשׁ אֲשֶׁר תִּפְנֶה אֶל הָאוֹבוֹת וְאֶל הַיִּדְּעוֹנִים וגו׳. עוֹנֶשׁ מְנַיִין. וְאִישׁ אוֹ אִשָּׁה כִּי יִהְיֶה בָהֶם אוֹב אוֹ יִדְּעוֹנִי מוֹת יוּמָתוּ. וְלָמָּה לֹא תַנִּינָן יִדְּעוֹנִי בִּכְרִיתוּת. רִבִּי חִזְקִיָּה בְשֵׁם רֵישׁ לָקִישׁ. מִפְּנֵי שֶׁנִּכְלְלוּ כוּלָּם בְּלָאו אֶחָד אַל תִּפְנוּ אֶל הָאוֹבוֹת וגו׳. רִבִּי יָסָא בְשֵׁם רֵישׁ לָקִישׁ. שֶׁהוּא בְלֹא תַעֲשֶׂה שֶׁהוּא בָא מִכֹּחַ עֵשֵׂה. אָמַר רִבִּי זְעוּרָה קוֹמֵי רִבִּי יָסָא. הָכֵן לָא אֲתַא מַתְנֵי בַר נַשׁ מַתְנֵי יִדְּעוֹנִי בְּכְרִיתוּת אֶלָּא אַתְּ. אֲמַר לֵיהּ. כְּמַה דְאִישְׁתָּעֵי קִרְיָיא אִישְׁתָּעַיַית מַתְנִיתָה. אוֹב אוּ יִדְּעוֹנִי.

From where the warning about the necromancer? Do not turn to the necromancers. From where extirpation? A person who would turn to necromancers and mediums, etc. Punishment from where? A man or woman, impersonating a necromancer or a medium, shall be put to death. Why is the medium not mentioned in Keritut? Rebbi Ḥizqiah in the name of Rebbi Simeon ben Laqish: Because they are taken together in one prohibition, do not turn to the necromancers, etc. Rebbi Yasa in the name of Rebbi Simeon ben Laqish: Because it is a prohibition implied by a positive commandment. Rebbi Zeˋira said before Rebbi Yasa: No person except you thought of stating the medium in this way in Keritut. He told him, because as the verse formulated it so the Mishnah formulates it, a necromancer or a medium.

אוֹ זֶה פִיתוֹם הַמְדַבֵּר מִשֶּׁיחְיוֹ. וְיִדְּעוֹנִי זֶה הַמְדַבֵּר בְּפִיו. הֲרֵי אֵילּוּ בִסְקִילָה וְהַנִּשְׁאָל בָּהֶן בְּאַזְהָרָה. וְדוֹרֵשׁ אֶל הַמֵּתִים. אִית תַּנָּיֵי תַנֵּי. זֶה הַנִּשְׁאַל בַּגּוּלְגּוֹלֶת. אִית תַּנָּיֵי תַנֵּי. זֶה הַנִּשְׁאַל בִּזְכוּרוֹ. מַה בֵין הַנִּשְׁאַל בַּגּוּלְגּוֹלֶת לַמַּעֲלֶה בִזְכוּרוֹ. שֶׁהַנִּשְׁאַל בַּגּוּלְגּוֹלֶת עוֹלֶה כְדַרְכּוֹ וְעוֹלֶה בַשַּׁבָּת וְהַהֶדְיוֹט מַעֲלֶה אֶת הַמֶּלֶךְ. וְהַמַּעֲלֶה בִזְכוּרוֹ אֵינוֹ עוֹלֶה כְדַרְכּוֹ וְאֵינוֹ עוֹלֶה בַשַּׁבָּת וְאֵין הַהֶדְיוֹט מַעֲלֶה אֶת הַמֶּלֶךְ.

“The necromancer is the πύθων and one who speaks from his armpit. The medium speaks through his mouth. These are stoned but one who consults them is forewarned. And one who asks the dead. Some Tannaïm state: this is one who interrogates a skull. Some Tannaïm state: this is one who interrogates his masculinity. What is the difference between one interrogated by his skull or one raised by his masculinity? The one interrogated by his skull rises normally, rises on the Sabbath, and a commoner can raise a king. But one raised by his masculinity does not rise normally, does not rise on the Sabbath, and a commoner cannot raise a king.

אָמַר רִבִּי הוּנָא. קִרְיָיא מְסַיֵיעַ לְמָאן דְּאָמַר. אוֹב זֶה הַמַּעֲלֶה בִזְכוּרוֹן. מַה טַעֲמָא. קָסֳמִי נָא לִי בָּאוֹב וְהַעֲלִי נָא לִי אֵת אֲשֶׁר אוֹמַר אֵלָיִיךָ. מַה אַתְּ שְׁמַע מִינָּהּ. אָמַר רִבִּי מָנָא. מִיכָּן דַּהֲוָת יָדְעָה מִילִּין מִילִּין סַגִּין. מַאי כְדוֹן. וְהָיָה כְּאוֹב מֵאֶרֶץ קוֹלֵךְ.

Rebbi Huna said, a verse supports him who said, the necromancer is the one who raises by his masculinity. What is the reason? Please apply necromancer’s magic and raise for me whom I shall tell you. What do you understand from here? Rebbi Mana said, it implies that she was competent in many ways. What about it? Your voice will be from the earth like that of a necromancer.

מִילֵּיהוֹן דְּרַבָּנִין מְסַיְיעָן לְרִבִּי יָסָא. דְּאָמַר רִבִּי יָסָא בְשֵׁם רַבָּנִין. מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהֵן מַקְטִירִין לַשֵּׁדִים. רִבִּי הִילָא בְשֵׁם רִבִּי יָסָא. מִפְּנֵי שֶׁנִּכְלְלוּ כוּלָּן עַל יְדֵי מַעֲשֶׂה.

The words of the rabbis support Rebbi Yasa, as Rebbi Yasa said in the rabbis’ name: Because they burn incense to spirits. Rebbi Hila in the name of Rebbi Yasa: Because they all were included by actions.