About This Text
Composed: Talmudic Israel, c.375 – c.425 CE
Tractate Avodah Zara (“Idolatry”) is a tractate in Seder Nezikin (“Order of Damages") that discusses the prohibition of idolatry and regulations on interactions between Jews and idolaters. The first two chapters address economic relationships with idolaters and consumption of their food. The third and fourth chapters discuss laws related to forbidden idols and images and the process of their nullification, and the fifth and final chapter discusses the prohibition of deriving benefit from wine that was poured as libation for idol worship.