161. Water, Rocks, and More

Avodas Kochavim 8:2

If someone bowed down to water that was lifted up by a wave, he would not cause that water to become prohibited. If he picked some water up with his hands and bowed down to it, that water would be rendered prohibited. If rocks that slid off a mountain were worshipped where they fell, they remain permitted since they were not manipulated by a human being.

Avodas Kochavim 8:3

If a Jew stood a brick up with the intention of bowing down to it but he did not actually do so, and then a non-Jew came along and bowed down to it, it becomes prohibited to derive benefit from the brick. This is because standing it up was a human action. Similarly, if he stood an egg up and a non-Jew bowed down to it, it becomes forbidden to benefit from the egg. If one cuts off a gourd and bows down to it, it becomes prohibited. If he bowed down to half the gourd while the other half was still attached, the other half is prohibited out of doubt, i.e., it might be considered a handle for the half that was worshipped.

One may not derive benefit from a tree that was planted for the purpose of being worshipped. This is what the Torah means when it discusses as asheira. If a tree that was previously planted is pruned or carved in the name of idolatry and branches grew, these branches must be cut off and it is forbidden to derive benefit from them. This is true even in the case of an extension grafted onto the tree. The rest of the tree remains permitted. Similarly, if one bows down to a tree, the tree itself is not rendered prohibited but it becomes forbidden to derive benefit from the branches, leaves, fruits, etc. that the tree produced during the time it was being worshipped.

If a non-Jew guards a tree’s fruit, saying that is designated to make alcoholic drinks for a certain temple of idolatry, and these drinks are consumed on holidays of idolatry, then it is forbidden to derive benefit from that tree. This practice is a ritual associated with asheira trees, so we must assume that this tree is an asheira.