לֹֽא־תַעֲשׂ֨וּ לָכֶ֜ם אֱלִילִ֗ם וּפֶ֤סֶל וּמַצֵּבָה֙ לֹֽא־תָקִ֣ימוּ לָכֶ֔ם וְאֶ֣בֶן מַשְׂכִּ֗ית לֹ֤א תִתְּנוּ֙ בְּאַרְצְכֶ֔ם לְהִֽשְׁתַּחֲוֺ֖ת עָלֶ֑יהָ כִּ֛י אֲנִ֥י יְהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃
You shall not make idols for yourselves, or set up for yourselves carved images or pillars, or place figured stones in your land to worship upon, for I the LORD am your God. 26:1
Why does it mention to not serve idols again and why now?
The Ibn Ezra says that it mentions it now because it’s actually talking about how when you are a slave to someone who serves idols you yourself should not serve those idols.
- what other reasons are there for having to say to not serve idols now?
- Where else does something in the Torah seem out of place but there is a reason for it?
- Where else does it say to not serve Idols?
The Chizkuni says that when it says לא תעשו לכם אלילים it is talking about a Jew who is sold as a slave to a non Jew, and out of frustration over what has happened to them, they decide to make idols, that it is understandable.
ReplyDeleteRashi answers this questions by saying: This command is repeated here referencing someone who sold himself as a slave to a non-Jew. This is so that this person wouldn’t say "Since my master worships idols, I will too; since my master doesn’t keep Shabbat, I won’t" The order of this is in the order that these incidents occur. First it warns the people about shmeita. If one is trading shmeita fruits, he will have to sell his property on. That is why is it put near Shabbat.I like this answer because it fully lays out why shmeita is near Shabbat, but I found the answer to be confusing and sometimes hard to follow.
ReplyDeleteAccording to Rashi, the commandment also includes selling one’s self to a non Jew as a slave. Because, you might start being like him and serve his idols. I like this answer because it takes into account peer pressure and how we can be affected by people we spend a lot of time with.
ReplyDelete^Rivka
DeleteThe Ibn Ezra simply explains the reason why the pasuk mentions not being allowed to worship idols again is just in case someone makes the argument that it is not their idol it is their masters, we know that you are not even allowed to worship your masters idol!
ReplyDeleteThe Sforno has a unique opinion on these words. He explains that even though the Torah speaks on this subject a lot, this time in particular is talking about someone who was forced to to Avoda Zara under certain circumstances. Even if they are forced to worship idols, they still can’t entirely turn their back on Hashem.
ReplyDeleteI really like this answer because Sforno points out that if you are forced to worship idols against your will, you might feel like Hashem has abandoned you. This is a really logical answer, about trusting Hashem even in challenging times when you are forced to outwardly betray Him.
Molly Glicksman