Reeh 12:31 · EXTRA 1

EXTRA · Parashas Reeh · Third Aliyah · Passuk 12:31

Supplementary classical material for a passuk with no Torah Temimah citation.

The Complete Passuk

לֹא־תַעֲשֶׂ֣ה כֵ֔ן לַיהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ כִּ֣י כָל־תּוֹעֲבַ֨ת יְהֹוָ֜ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר שָׂנֵ֗א עָשׂוּ֙ לֵאלֹ֣הֵיהֶ֔ם כִּ֣י גַ֤ם אֶת־בְּנֵיהֶם֙ וְאֶת־בְּנֹ֣תֵיהֶ֔ם יִשְׂרְפ֥וּ בָאֵ֖שׁ לֵאלֹֽהֵיהֶֽם׃

You shall not do so to Hashem your God, for every abomination to Hashem that He hates they have done to their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they burn in the fire to their gods.

Chabad.org — 12:31

Source Citation

Classical source: Sifrei Devarim.

Sefaria — Sifrei Devarim

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
כִּי גַם אֶת בְּנֵיהֶם — גַּם לְרַבּוֹת אֶת אֲבוֹתֵיהֶם וְאִמּוֹתֵיהֶם. אָמַר רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא: אֲנִי רָאִיתִי גּוֹי שֶׁכָּפַת אָבִיו לִפְנֵי כַּלְבּוֹ וַאֲכָלוֹ.

English: “For even their sons” — the word “even” includes their fathers and mothers as well. R’ Akiva said: I once saw a gentile who bound his father before his dog, and the dog ate him.

On the daf / in context: The inclusive particle “gam” expands the horror of the pagan practice beyond the children already named in the verse.

Type of Learning

Ribbuy from the particle “gam” (Sifrei) — the Torah includes additional victims of the abominable cult.

What Is Learned

The abominations practiced by the nations extended even to the parents; the Torah forbids adopting any such form of service toward Hashem.