Sforno on Ki Sisa 34:17

Parashas Ki Sisa · EXTRA (side-ring) · Passuk 34:17

Torah Temimah has no citation on this passuk. Side-ring material from Sforno.

Sefaria — Sforno on Ki Sisa 34:17

Core Text — Sforno on Ki Sisa 34:17
אֱלֹהֵי מַסֵּכָה. הֵם הַטְּלֶסְמָאוֹת הַנַּעֲשׂוֹת בְּשָׁעוֹת יְדוּעוֹת בְּחִבּוּר מֵהַכּוֹכָבִים, וְלָזֶה עוֹשִׂין אוֹתָן עַל יְדֵי הַתּוּךְ, לְמַעַן יֵעָשׂוּ כָּל חֶלְקֵי אוֹתָן הַצּוּרוֹת יַחְדָּיו בְּאוֹתוֹ רֶגַע. וּבָם יַחְשְׁבוּ עוֹשֵׂיהֶם לְהַשִּׂיג קִנְיָנִים וְצָרְכֵי הַגּוּפוֹת, וְאוּלַי יַחְשֹׁב הַחוֹשֵׁב שֶׁאֵין זֶה מֶרֶד בָּאֵל יִתְבָּרַךְ כְּשֶׁלֹּא יְקַבְּלֵהוּ הָעוֹבֵד עָלָיו כֶּאֱלוֹהַּ. וְהוּא אָמְנָם הֵפֶךְ רְצוֹנוֹ, כִּי חָפֵץ שֶׁלֹּא יִפְנוּ עוֹבְדָיו לְעֶזֶר אֱלוֹהַּ זוּלָתוֹ, כְּאָמְרוֹ "וַאֲנַחְנוּ לֹא נֵדַע מַה נַּעֲשֶׂה, כִּי עָלֶיךָ עֵינֵינוּ" (דברי הימים ב כ:יב).

English: אלוהי מסכה, graven images; some cameos, worn at times when certain horoscopes, constellations, dominate the sky; they are intended to protect the wearer. (compare Maimonides, Moreh, 1,63) The reason why these cameos are cast is that all of their parts must be made simultaneously, symbolising the simultaneous appearance of such constellations of certain stars. The people serving these constellations believe that they can improve the quality of their lives by means of goodwill extended to them by these stars. The Torah warns against this practice because the person doing this may not even consid

Type of Learning

Commentary (Rishon) on a TT-silent passuk — EXTRA side-ring only.

What Is Learned

See the Sforno on this passuk for the full derash and implications.