Reeh 12:02 · unit 1

TT #16 · Parashas Reeh · First Aliyah · Passuk 12:02

The Complete Passuk

אַבֵּ֣ד תְּ֠אַבְּד֠וּן אֶֽת־כָּל־הַמְּקֹמ֞וֹת אֲשֶׁ֧ר עָֽבְדוּ־שָׁ֣ם הַגּוֹיִ֗ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר אַתֶּ֛ם יֹרְשִׁ֥ים אֹתָ֖ם אֶת־אֱלֹהֵיהֶ֑ם עַל־הֶהָרִ֤ים הָרָמִים֙ וְעַל־הַגְּבָע֔וֹת וְתַ֖חַת כָּל־עֵ֥ץ רַעֲנָֽן׃

You shall utterly destroy all the places where the nations that you are dispossessing served their gods: on the high mountains and on the hills and under every leafy tree.

Chabad.org — 12:02

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Avodah Zarah 45b.

Sefaria — Avodah Zarah 45b

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
אַבֵּד תְּאַבְּדוּן – מִכָּאן שֶׁצָּרִיךְ לְשָׁרֵשׁ אַחֲרֵי עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים.

English: “You shall utterly destroy” — From here [we learn] that one must uproot idolatry after it (i.e., pursue it to its complete eradication).

On the daf / in context: The doubled verb form teaches the obligation to be diligent and thorough in destroying idolatry, grinding it and scattering it or casting it into the sea.

Type of Learning

Derash on the doubled verb (Sifrei / Bavli) — intensity and thoroughness of the destruction.

What Is Learned

One is obligated to pursue idolatry to its complete eradication, not merely to remove it once.