Reeh 12:02 · unit 2

TT #17 · 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 Sifrei / Sanhedrin.

Sefaria — Sifrei Devarim

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
אַבֵּד תְּאַבְּדוּן – לְרַבּוֹת עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים שֶׁל עוֹבֵד כּוֹכָבִים שֶׁאֲסוּרָה מִיָּד כְּשֶׁתֵּעָשֶׂה אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁעֲדַיִן לֹא נֶעֶבְדָה.

English: “You shall utterly destroy” — to include the idolatry of a non-Jew, which is forbidden immediately upon being made even though it has not yet been worshipped.

On the daf / in context: Unlike the idolatry of a Jew (which becomes forbidden only after it has been worshipped), the idolatry of a non-Jew is prohibited as soon as it is fashioned.

Type of Learning

Derash on the verse (Sifrei) — extending the prohibition to newly made non-Jewish idols.

What Is Learned

An idol made by a non-Jew is forbidden at once, even before it is worshipped.