How far do you extend the prohibition? TB Avodah Zarah 14

On daf TB Avodah Zarah 13b the Mishna lists items a Jew is forever forbidden to sell the pagan because they are used for idolatry. “These are the items that it is prohibited to sell to a gentile at any time of year, as they are used specifically for idol worship: Itzterubalin (pinecones), benot shuaḥ (white dates), petotarot (limits the dates that are still attached to stem), frankincense, and a white rooster.” (Sefaria.org translation) The Mishna and the Gemara continues to provide leniencies under certain circumstances to allow a Jew to sell these things to a pagan.

One such leniency is buying in bulk. “The mishna taught that selling frankincense to gentiles is prohibited. Rabbi Yitzḥak says that Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish says: The mishna is referring specifically to pure frankincense, which is used as incense for objects of idol worship. A Sage taught: And with regard to all of these items whose sale is prohibited, one may sell to gentiles a large bundle of merchandise, as it is clear that the gentile intends to sell the merchandise rather than sacrifice it to his object of idol worship. And how much does such a bundle weigh? Rabbi Yehuda ben Beteira explained: For the purposes of this halakha, no bundle is less than the weight of three hundred dinars.” (Today’s daf TB Avodah Zarah 14, Sefaria.org translation) Steinsaltz explains that there are different kinds of dinars and here this dinar is a regular dinar. A regular dinar weighs approximately 430 grams. Consequently, 300 Dinars would weighs approximately 129,000 grams or 284.39 lbs.

The Gemara raises a problem. “But let us be concerned lest the buyer go and sell these items to another gentile, and they sacrifice them.” (Sefaria.org translation) Abaye resolves this difficulty. “This scenario is certainly possible, but we are commanded only not to “place a stumbling block before the blind” (Leviticus 19:14), i.e., one may not be the direct cause of a gentile’s idol worship. We are not commanded not to place a stumbling block before one who may subsequently place it before the blind.” (Sefaria.org translation)

Many Rishonim are surprised by this answer for further on in our massekhet (daf 65b) and in many other places we are forbidden to sell a forbidden item for us Jews (like Lindsay Woolsey clothing or a leg of an animal that still has its sciatic nerve intact) to a non-Jew lest he turns around and sells it to an Israelite.

Some explain that “We are not commanded not to place a stumbling block before one who may subsequently place it before the blind” only applies in Israel. There the Jews are the majority of potential purchasers. (Meire) Others explain that “before” and “before” is not a Torah prohibition, but rather obligation to be extremely careful so that no Jew accidentally transgresses because of us. (Ritba) Still others hold that this prohibition falls under the general idea that all of Israel is responsible to each other.

I think the simplest explanation supporting Abaye is “there is no end to the matter” for one pagan could sell the object to another pagan who sells it to a third pagan who then sells it to a Jew.