הלכות עבודה זרה וחוקות הגויים
11 halachot · Hebrew + English
כָּל הָעוֹבֵד כּוֹכָבִים בִּרְצוֹנוֹ בְּזָדוֹן חַיָּב כָּרֵת וְאִם הָיוּ שָׁם עֵדִים וְהַתְרָאָה נִסְקָל. וְאִם עָבַד בִּשְׁגָגָה מֵבִיא קָרְבַּן חַטָּאת קְבוּעָה:
Whoever worships idols willingly, intentionally, they are punishable by kares and if there were witnesses and warning, stoning. By accident, they bring a set sin-offering (chatas).
עֲבוֹדוֹת הַרְבֵּה קָבְעוּ עוֹבְדֵי כּוֹכָבִים לְכָל צֶלֶם וְצֶלֶם וּלְכָל צוּרָה וְצוּרָה וַעֲבוֹדַת זֶה אֵינָהּ כַּעֲבוֹדַת זֶה כְּגוֹן פְּעוֹר שֶׁעֲבוֹדָתוֹ שֶׁפּוֹעֵר אָדָם עַצְמוֹ לוֹ וּמַרְקוּלִיס שֶׁעֲבוֹדָתוֹ שֶׁיִּזְרֹק לוֹ אֲבָנִים אוֹ יְסַקֵּל מִלְּפָנָיו אֲבָנִים וְהַרְבֵּה עֲבוֹדוֹת כְּגוֹן אֵלּוּ תִּקְּנוּ לִשְׁאָר צְלָמִים. לְפִיכָךְ הַפּוֹעֵר עַצְמוֹ לְמַרְקוּלִיס אוֹ שֶׁזָּרַק אֶבֶן לִפְעוֹר פָּטוּר עַד שֶׁיַּעֲבֹד אוֹתוֹ דֶּרֶךְ עֲבוֹדָתוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים יב ל) "אֵיכָה יַעַבְדוּ הַגּוֹיִם הָאֵלֶּה אֶת אֱלֹהֵיהֶם וְאֶעֱשֶׂה כֵּן גַּם אָנִי". וּמִפְּנֵי זֶה הָעִנְיָן צְרִיכִין בֵּית דִּין לֵידַע דַּרְכֵי הָעֲבוֹדוֹת, שֶׁאֵין סוֹקְלִין עוֹבֵד כּוֹכָבִים עַד שֶׁיֵּדְעוּ שֶׁזּוֹ הִיא דֶּרֶךְ עֲבוֹדָתוֹ:
The gentiles established various different services for each particular idol and image. These services do not [necessarily] resemble each other. For example, Pe'or is served by defecating before it. Marculis is served by throwing stones at it or clearing stones away from it. Similarly, other services were instituted for other idols. One who defecates before Marculis or throws a stone at Pe'or is free of liability until he serves it according to the accepted modes of service, as [implied by Deuteronomy 12:30]: "[Lest one inquire about their gods, saying,] 'How did these nations serve their gods? I will do the same.'" For this reason, a court must know the types of worship [practiced by gentiles], because an idolater is stoned to death only when we know that [he has worshiped a false god] in the mode in which it is traditionally worshiped.
וְאַזְהָרָה שֶׁל עֲבוֹדוֹת אֵלּוּ וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָּהֶן הוּא מַה שֶּׁכָּתוּב (שמות כ ה) "וְלֹא תָעָבְדֵם". בַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים בִּשְׁאָר עֲבוֹדוֹת חוּץ מִמִּשְׁתַּחֲוְה וְזוֹבֵחַ וּמַקְטִיר וּמְנַסֵּךְ. אֲבָל הָעוֹבֵד בְּאַחַת מֵעֲבוֹדוֹת אֵלּוּ לְאֶחָד מִכָּל מִינֵי עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים חַיָּב וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵין דֶּרֶךְ עֲבוֹדָתוֹ בְּכָךְ. כֵּיצַד. הֲרֵי שֶׁנִּסֵּךְ לִפְעוֹר אוֹ שֶׁזָּבַח לְמַרְקוּלִיס חַיָּב שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות כב יט) "זֹבֵחַ לָאֱלֹהִים יָחֳרָם בִּלְתִּי לַה' לְבַדּוֹ". זְבִיחָה בִּכְלַל עֲבוֹדָה הָיְתָה וְלָמָּה יָצָאת לוֹמַר לְךָ מַה זְּבִיחָה מְיֻחֶדֶת שֶׁעוֹבְדִין בָּהּ לַשֵּׁם וְחַיָּב הַזּוֹבֵחַ לְאֵל אַחֵר סְקִילָה עָלֶיהָ בֵּין הָיְתָה דֶּרֶךְ עֲבוֹדָתוֹ בִּזְבִיחָה אוֹ אֵינָהּ בִּזְבִיחָה. אַף כָּל עֲבוֹדָה שֶׁהִיא מְיֻחֶדֶת לַשֵּׁם אִם עָבַד בָּהּ לְאֵל אַחֵר בֵּין שֶׁהָיְתָה דֶּרֶךְ עֲבוֹדָתוֹ בְּכָךְ בֵּין שֶׁאֵינָהּ בְּכָךְ חַיָּב עָלֶיהָ. לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר (שמות לד יד) "לֹא תִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה לְאֵל אַחֵר" לְחַיֵּב עַל הַהִשְׁתַּחֲוָיָה אֲפִלּוּ אֵין דֶּרֶךְ עֲבוֹדָתוֹ בְּכָךְ. וְהוּא הַדִּין לִמְקַטֵּר וּמְנַסֵּךְ. וְזוֹרֵק וּמְנַסֵּךְ אֶחָד הוּא:
The warning [forbidding] such worship and the like is the verse [Exodus 20:5] which states: "Do not serve them." When does the above apply? with regard to services other than bowing, slaughtering [an animal], bringing a burnt offering, and offering a libation. A person who performs one of these four services to any one of the types of false gods is liable, even though this is not its accepted mode of service. How is this exemplified? A person who offers a libation to Pe'or or slaughters [an animal] to Marculis is liable, as [implied by Exodus 22:19]: "Whoever slaughters [an animal] to any deity other than G-d alone must be condemned to death." [Liability for performing the other services can be derived as follows:] Slaughter was included in the general category of services [forbidden to be performed to false gods]. Why was it mentioned explicitly? To teach [the following]: Slaughter is distinct as one of the services of G-d, and one who slaughters to false gods is liable to be executed by stoning. Similarly, with regard to any service which is distinct as one of the services of G-d, if a person performs it in worship of other gods, he is liable. For [a similar reason, Exodus 34:14] states: "Do not bow down to another god," to teach that one is liable for bowing down [to another god] even when this is not its accepted mode of service. The same applies to one who brings a burnt offering or pours a libation. Sprinkling [blood] is considered the same as pouring a libation.
סָפַת לָהּ צוֹאָה אוֹ שֶׁנִּסֵּךְ לָהּ עֲבִיט שֶׁל מֵי רַגְלַיִם חַיָּב. שָׁחַט לָהּ חָגָב פָּטוּר אֶלָּא אִם כֵּן הָיְתָה עֲבוֹדָתָהּ בְּכָךְ. וְכֵן אִם שָׁחַט לָהּ בְּהֵמָה מְחֻסֶּרֶת אֵיבָר פָּטוּר אֶלָּא אִם כֵּן הָיְתָה דֶּרֶךְ עֲבוֹדָתָהּ בְּכָךְ. עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים שֶׁעוֹבְדִין אוֹתָהּ בְּמַקֵּל. שָׁבַר מַקֵּל בְּפָנֶיהָ חַיָּב וְנֶאֱסֶרֶת. זָרַק מַקֵּל בְּפָנֶיהָ חַיָּב וְאֵינָהּ נֶאֱסֶרֶת. שֶׁאֵין זְרִיקַת הַמַּקֵּל כְּעֵין זְרִיקַת הַדָּם שֶׁהֲרֵי הַמַּקֵּל כְּמוֹ שֵׁהוּא וְהַדָּם מִתְפַּזֵּר. הַמְקַבֵּל עָלָיו אֶחָד מִכָּל מִינֵי עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים בֵּאלוֹהַּ חַיָּב סְקִילָה. וַאֲפִלּוּ הִגְבִּיהַּ לְבֵנָה וְאָמַר לָהּ אֵלִי אַתָּה וְכֵן כָּל כַּיּוֹצֵא בְּדִבּוּר זֶה חַיָּב. וַאֲפִלּוּ חָזַר בּוֹ בְּתוֹךְ כְּדֵי דִּבּוּר וְאָמַר אֵין זֶה אֵלִי אֵין חֲזָרָתוֹ כְּלוּם אֶלָּא נִסְקָל:
[Even if] one pours feces before it or pours a libation of urine from a chamber pot before it, one is liable. If one slaughters a locust before it, one is not liable, unless this is the mode of service of that deity. Similarly, if one slaughters an animal lacking a limb for it, one is not liable, unless this is the manner of service of this deity. [The following rules apply when] a false god is worshiped by [beating with] a staff [before it]: If one breaks a staff before it, one is liable [for the worship of false gods], and [the deity] is forbidden. If one threw a staff before it, one is held liable, but [the deity] is not forbidden, because throwing a staff is not considered equivalent to sprinkling blood. The staff remains as it was, while the blood spatters [in different directions]. A person who accepts any one of the various false gods as a deity is liable for [execution by] stoning. Even one who lifted up a brick and said, "You are my god," or the like, is liable. Even if he retracted his statements in the midst of speaking and said, "This is not my G-d," his retraction is not significant and he should be stoned [to death].
הָעוֹבֵד עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים כְּדַרְכָּהּ וַאֲפִלּוּ עָשָׂה דֶּרֶךְ בִּזָּיוֹן חַיָּב. כֵּיצַד. הַפּוֹעֵר עַצְמוֹ לִפְעוֹר כְּדֵי לְבַזּוֹתוֹ אוֹ זָרַק אֶבֶן לְמַרְקוּלִיס כְּדֵי לְבַזּוֹתוֹ הוֹאִיל וַעֲבוֹדָתוֹ בְּכָךְ חַיָּב. וּמֵבִיא קָרְבָּן עַל שִׁגְגָתוֹ:
Anyone who serves a false god through its accepted mode of service - even if he does so in a derisive manner - is liable. What is implied? When a person defecates before Pe'or to repudiate it, or throws a stone at Marculis to repudiate it - since this is the manner of serving them - the person is liable and must bring a sacrifice [to atone for] his inadvertent transgression.
הָעוֹבֵד עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים מֵאַהֲבָה כְּגוֹן שֶׁחָשַׁק בְּצוּרָה זוֹ מִפְּנֵי מְלַאכְתָּהּ שֶׁהָיְתָה נָאָה בְּיוֹתֵר. אוֹ שֶׁעֲבָדָהּ מִיִּרְאָתוֹ לָהּ שֶׁמָּא תָּרֵעַ לוֹ כְּמוֹ שֶׁהֵן מְדַמִּים עוֹבְדֶיהָ שֶׁהִיא מֵיטִיבָה וּמְרֵעָה. אִם קִבְּלָהּ עָלָיו בֵּאלוֹהַּ חַיָּב סְקִילָה וְאִם עֲבָדָהּ דֶּרֶךְ עֲבוֹדָתָהּ אוֹ בְּאַחַת מֵאַרְבַּע עֲבוֹדוֹת מֵאַהֲבָה אוֹ מִיִּרְאָה פָּטוּר. הַמְגַפֵּף עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים וְהַמְנַשֵּׁק לָהּ וְהַמְכַבֵּד וְהַמְרַבֵּץ לְפָנֶיהָ וְהַמַּרְחִיץ לָהּ וְהַסָּךְ וְהַמַּלְבִּישׁ וְהַמַּנְעִיל וְכָל כַּיּוֹצֵא בְּדִבְרֵי כָּבוֹד הָאֵלּוּ עוֹבֵר בְּלֹא תַּעֲשֶׂה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וְלֹא תָעָבְדֵם, וּדְבָרִים אֵלּוּ בִּכְלַל עֲבוֹדָה הֵן. וְאַף עַל פִּי כֵן אֵינוֹ לוֹקֶה עַל אַחַת מֵהֶן לְפִי שֶׁאֵינָן בְּפֵרוּשׁ. וְאִם הָיְתָה דֶּרֶךְ עֲבוֹדָתָהּ בְּאֶחָד מִכָּל הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלּוּ וַעֲשָׂהוּ לְעָבְדָהּ חַיָּב:
[The following rules apply when] a person serves a false deity out of love - i.e., he desires an image because its service is very attractive - or when one serves it out of his fear of it - i.e., he fears that it will harm him - as the [idol] worshipers fear [their deities as sources of] benefit and harm: If he accepts it as a god, he is liable to be stoned to death. If he serves it out of love or fear through its accepted mode of service or through one of the four services [mentioned above], he is not held liable. One who embraces a false deity, kisses it, sweeps before it, mops before it, washes it, anoints it, dresses it, places shoes upon it, or performs any similar act of deference violates a negative commandment, as [implied by Exodus 20:5]: "Do not serve them." Such acts are also "service." The offender is, nevertheless, not liable for lashes, because [these services] are not [mentioned] explicitly [by the Torah]. If one of the above services was the accepted mode of worship [of a particular deity] and a person performed this service as an act of worship, he is liable [for execution].
יָשַׁב לוֹ קוֹץ בְּרַגְלוֹ לִפְנֵי עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים לֹא יָשֹׁחַ וְיִטְּלֶנּוּ מִפְּנֵי שֶׁנִּרְאֶה כְּמִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה לָהּ. נִתְפַּזְּרוּ לוֹ מָעוֹת בְּפָנֶיהָ לֹא יָשֹׁחַ וְיִטְּלֵם מִפְּנֵי שֶׁנִּרְאֶה כְּמִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה לָהּ אֶלָּא יֵשֵׁב וְאַחַר כָּךְ יִטּל:
If a splinter becomes stuck in a person's foot before an idol, he should not bend down to remove it, because it appears that he is bowing down to the idol. If money belonging to a person becomes scattered before an idol, he should not bow down and pick it up, because it appears that he is bowing down to the idol. Instead, he should sit down, and then pick it up.
פַּרְצוּפוֹת הַמְקַלְּחוֹת מַיִם בִּפְנֵי עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים לֹא יַנִּיחַ פִּיו עַל פִּיהֶם וְיִשְׁתֶּה מִפְּנֵי שֶׁנִּרְאֶה כִּמְנַשֵּׁק לַעֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים:
A person should not place his mouth over the mouths of statues which serve as fountains that are located before false deities in order to drink, because it appears that he is kissing the false deity.
הָעוֹשֶׂה עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים לְעַצְמוֹ אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁלֹּא עֲשָׂאָהּ בְּיָדוֹ וְלֹא עֲבָדָהּ לוֹקֶה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות כ ד) "לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה לְךָ פֶסֶל וְכָל תְּמוּנָה". וְכֵן הָעוֹשֶׂה עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים בְּיָדוֹ לַאֲחֵרִים אֲפִלּוּ עֲשָׂאָהּ לְעוֹבֵד כּוֹכָבִים לוֹקֶה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא יט ד) "וֵאלֹהֵי מַסֵּכָה לֹא תַעֲשׂוּ לָכֶם". לְפִיכָךְ הָעוֹשֶׂה עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים בְּיָדוֹ לְעַצְמוֹ לוֹקֶה שְׁתַּיִם:
A person who has a false god made for himself - even though he, himself, did not actually fashion it, nor worship it - is [punished by] lashing, as [Exodus 20:5] states: "Do not make for yourself an idol or any representation." Similarly, a person who actually fashions a false god for others, even for idolaters, is [punished by] lashing, as [Leviticus 19:4] states: "Do not make molten gods for yourselves." Accordingly, a person who actually fashions a false god for himself receives two measures of lashes.
אָסוּר לַעֲשׂוֹת צוּרוֹת לְנוֹי וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵינָהּ עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות כ כ) "לֹא תַעֲשׂוּן אִתִּי" כְּלוֹמַר צוּרוֹת שֶׁל כֶּסֶף וְזָהָב שֶׁאֵינָם אֶלָּא לְנוֹי כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יִטְּעוּ בָּהֶן הַטּוֹעִים וִידַמּוּ שֶׁהֵם לַעֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים. וְאֵין אִסּוּר לָצוּר לְנוֹי אֶלָּא צוּרַת הָאָדָם בִּלְבַד. לְפִיכָךְ אֵין מְצַיְּרִים לֹא בְּעֵץ וְלֹא בְּסִיד וְלֹא בְּאֶבֶן צוּרַת הָאָדָם. וְהוּא שֶׁתִּהְיֶה הַצּוּרָה בּוֹלֶטֶת כְּגוֹן הַצִּיּוּר וְהַכִּיּוּר שֶׁבַּטְּרַקְלִין וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָּהֶן וְאִם צָר לוֹקֵה. אֲבָל אִם הָיִתָה הַצּוּרָה מֻשְׁקַעַת אוֹ צוּרָה שֶׁל סַמָּנִין כְּגוֹן הַצּוּרוֹת שֵׁעַל גַּבֵּי הַלּוּחוֹת וִהַטַּבְלִיּוֹת אוֹ צוּרוֹת שֶׁרוֹקְמִין בָּאָרִיג הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ מֻתָּרוֹת:
It is forbidden to create images for decoration, even if they are not for idolatrous purposes. As it states, "You shall not make with me [Gods of silver and gold -- do not make them for yourselves] (Exodus 20:20)". That is to say, not even gold and silver images which are for decoration, in order not to let people come to the mistaken impression that they are for idolatry. The prohibition of decorative images is specifically regarding the human form. Therefore, wood, plaster, or stone cannot be shaped into the human form. This is when the form is in relief, for example the type of reliefs or imagery employed on basins in palaces, etc. One who creates such an image receives lashes. However if the image was a sunken form, or a painted image such as those placed on panels, or an image created from weaving threads, it is permitted.
טַבַּעַת שֶׁיֵּשׁ עָלֶיהָ חוֹתָם שֶׁהוּא צוּרַת אָדָם אִם הָיְתָה הַצּוּרָה בּוֹלֶטֶת אָסוּר לְהַנִּיחָהּ וּמֻתָּר לַחְתֹּם בָּהּ. וְאִם הָיְתָה הַצּוּרָה שׁוֹקַעַת מֻתָּר לְהַנִּיחָהּ וְאָסוּר לַחְתֹּם בָּהּ מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהַנָּחָתָם תַּעֲשֶׂה בּוֹ הַצּוּרָה בּוֹלֶטֶת. וְכֵן אָסוּר לָצוּר דְּמוּת חַמָּה וּלְבָנָה כּוֹכָבִים מַזָּלוֹת וּמַלְאָכִים שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות כ כ) "לֹא תַעֲשׂוּן אִתִּי" (גמרא ראש השנה כד ב) "לֹא תַעֲשׂוּן כִּדְמוּת שְׁמָשַׁי הַמְשַׁמְּשִׁין לְפָנַי בַּמָּרוֹם" וַאֲפִלּוּ עַל הַלּוּחַ. צוּרוֹת הַבְּהֵמוֹת וּשְׁאָר נֶפֶשׁ חַיָּה חוּץ מִן הָאָדָם וְצוּרוֹת הָאִילָנוֹת וּדְשָׁאִים וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָּהֶן מֻתָּר לָצוּר אוֹתָם וַאֲפִלּוּ הָיְתָה הַצּוּרָה בּוֹלֶטֶת:
[The following rules apply regarding] a signet ring which bears a human image: If the image is protruding, it is forbidden to wear it, but it is permitted to use it as a seal. If the image is an impression, it is permitted to wear it, but it is forbidden to use it as a seal, because it will create an image which protrudes. Similarly, it is forbidden to make an image of the sun, the moon, the stars, the constellations, or the angels, as [implied by Exodus, ibid.]: "Do not make with Me [gods of silver...]" - i.e., do not make images of My servants, those who serve before Me on high. This [prohibition] applies even [to pictures] on tablets. The images of animals and other living beings - with the exception of men - and similarly, the images of trees, grasses, and the like may be fashioned. This applies even to images which protrude.