6. The idol, the service of which is abandoned in the time of peace, is allowed. “But if its service be abandoned in time of war?” “It is forbidden.”(459) The royal pedestals(460) are forbidden, because they are erected at the time when kings are travelling. 7. The elders were asked in Rome, “If God has no pleasure in idolatry, why does He not destroy it?” They replied to the Romans, “If the idolaters were serving a thing which was not necessary to the world, He would destroy it, but they serve the sun-disk, and the moon, and the stars, and the signs of the zodiac. Shall he destroy his world on account of the fools?” They replied to them, “If so He can destroy the object which is not wanted for the world, and leave that which the world wants.” They replied to them, “even we should be strengthening the hands of the worshippers of such objects; they would say, there is a proof that they are gods, because they are not destroyed.” 8. One may buy a wine-press pressed by an idolater, even though he take _grapes_ with his hand and lay them on the heap of grapes, as it is not made the wine of idolatrous libation till it runs into the vat. “Has it run into the vat?” “That which is in the vat is forbidden, but the remainder is allowed.” One may tread with an idolater in the wine-press, but one must not gather grapes with him. One must not tread or gather grapes with an Israelite who works in a state of defilement. But one may carry with him empty barrels to the press and bring them away with him from the press. One must not knead nor prepare with the baker who works in (a state of) legal defilement, but one may carry the bread with him to the dealer in bread. 9. “If an idolater be found standing by the side of a wine vat, and if he have any loan upon it?” “It is forbidden.” “If he have no loan on it?” “It is allowed.” “Has he fallen into the vat and come out again, or measured it with a cane; has he driven away a hornet with a cane; or has he given a slap to the fermentation on the top of the barrel?” All these things once happened, and the (Sages) decided, “Let it be sold.” But R. Simon “allowed it.” He took the barrel and flung it in a rage into the vat. This once happened, and the Sages allowed it.