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A new mishnah! Things in the natural world that were worshipped – and whether that worship made them prohibited for benefit. For the most part, the hills and so on are permitted – the worship doesn’t change them, but the obligation to destroy the idolatry itself kicks in. Adornment in the name of idolatry would be different – and prohibited. Also, a redundancy in the Torah: a prohibition against trees that are forbidden because they have been worshipped – and then another verse prohibited “each leafy tree,” which appears to be redundant. So Rabbi Akiva provides an explanation that presents a need for both verses. Plus, the question of intent – is the tree planted in the name of idolatry, in which case, it needs to be destroyed, or, alternatively, is the tree already there and then someone decides to worship it?
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