god, is allowed."

6. Though idolaters worship the mountains and the hills, the mountains and
the hills are allowed, but what is upon them is forbidden; as is said,
"Thou shalt not covet the silver and the gold upon them to take
them."(455) R. Jose, the Galilean, said, "their gods of the mountains, but
not the mountains their gods; their gods of the hills, but not the hills
their gods." "But why are the groves forbidden?" "Because they are
prepared by man's hands, and every object of idolatry which is prepared by
man's hands is forbidden." Said R. Akiba, "I will consider and decide
before thee; every place in which you find a high mountain, and an
elevated hill, and a flourishing tree, know that there is idolatry."

7. "He who had a house joined to an idol, and it fell down?" "It is
forbidden to rebuild it." "What shall he do?" "He must first reduce the
size of the house by four cubits, and then rebuild it." "If the house be
in common between him and the idol?" "It is decided to leave the four
cubits unoccupied, as its stones, wood, and dust cause defilement like a
worm, 'Thou shalt utterly detest it.' "(456)

8. There are three sorts of buildings. The house originally built for
idolatry is forbidden. "If the idolater whitewashed, and painted, and
repaired it for the idol?" "He must take down his repairs." "If he brought
in and afterward took out the idol?" "It is allowed."

9. There are three sorts of stones. The stone originally hewn for a
pedestal to the idol is forbidden. "If the idolater whitewashed, and
painted, and repaired it to honor an idol?" "He must take down his
repairs." "If he placed his idol upon it, and afterward took it away?" "It
is allowed."

10. There are three sorts of groves. The tree originally planted to honor
an idol is forbidden. "If the idolater cut it, and hewed it, and made
changes to honor an idol?" "He must take down his changes." "If he placed
an idol beneath it and abused it?" "It is allowed."

11. "What is a grove?" "That in which there is an idol." R. Simon said,
"everything that is worshipped, as it happened in Zidon at the tree where
they worshipped, and they found beneath it a heap. Said R. Simon to them,
'examine this heap.' And they examined it and found in it an image. He
said to them, 'as the object of service is the image, we shall allow the
tree to you.' "

12. One must not sit in the shadow of an idolatrous grove, and though he
sit, he is legally clean. And one must n