## Or HaChaim on Exodus Chapter 23

###### Or HaChaim on Exodus 23:2:1
[Or HaChaim on Exodus 23:2:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Exodus/r/23:2:1)

**לֹא תִהְיֶה אַחֲרֵי רַבִּים וְגוֹ׳.** רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה הִרְבּוּ לִדְרֹשׁ בְּפָסוּק זֶה, אֲבָל אֵין הַמִּקְרָא מִתְיַשֵּׁב לְפִי פְּשׁוּטוֹ. וְנִרְאֶה לְפָרֵשׁ הַכָּתוּב לְפִי מַה שֶׁאָמְרָה הַתּוֹרָה ״וְשָׁפְטוּ הָעֵדָה וְהִצִּילוּ״ וְגוֹ׳ (במדבר לה:כד-כה), וְאָמְרוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (סנהדרין ב,א) עֵדָה שׁוֹפֶטֶת וְעֵדָה מַצֶּלֶת, אֲבָל אִם פָּתְחוּ כֻּלָּם לְחוֹבָה פָּטוּר (סנהדרין יז,א).

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**לא תהיה אחרי רבים לרעות, "Do not follow a multitude to do evil;"** Our sages have offered a multitude of explanations on this verse none of which appear to address the plain meaning of the verse. I believe we need to understand this verse in terms of Numbers 35,24 and 25 ושפטו העדה…והצילו העדה. Our sages (*Sanhedrin* 4) comment there that when the court is to decide in matters which carry the death penalty there have to be a minimum of 23 judges in order that there could be a quorum (10) which indicts and a quorum which (may) exonerate. The extra number is designed to enable a majority to be present at all times. On folio 17 of the same tractate we are told that should all the judges indict unanimously the accused goes free.


###### Or HaChaim on Exodus 23:2:2
[Or HaChaim on Exodus 23:2:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Exodus/r/23:2:2)

וּבָא הַכָּתוּב כָּאן לְהָסִיר שְׁנֵי מִכְשׁוֹלִין אֲשֶׁר יִכָּשֵׁל בָּהֶם חָכָם מֵאֶמְצָעוּת דִּין זֶה. הָאֶחָד בְּהַגִּיעַ מִשְׁפָּט כָּזֶה וְיִרְאֶה חָכָם אֶחָד מֵהַשּׁוֹפְטִים שֶׁכָּל חֲבֵרָיו פָּתְחוּ לְחוֹבָה, וְהוּא חוֹשֵׁב בְּדַעְתּוֹ כִּי הוּא זַכַּאי, וְיִתְחַכֵּם לוֹמַר: ״אִם נֹאמַר זַכַּאי הִנֵּה הוּא יֵצֵא חַיָּב, כִּי יֵשׁ שָׁם עֵדָה שׁוֹפֶטֶת וְעֵדָה מַצֶּלֶת, וְנִמְצְאוּ דְבָרַי עוֹשִׂים הֵפֶךְ דַּעְתִּי. לָזֶה אֶתְחַכֵּם וְאוֹמַר חַיָּב, שֶׁבָּזֶה תִּהְיֶה סְבָרָתִי מִתְקַיֶּמֶת שֶׁיֵּצֵא זַכַּאי מִטַּעַם פָּתְחוּ כֻּלָּם וְכוּ׳, וְגַם אֶהְיֶה מְקַיֵּם הַמּוּסָר לְבַטֵּל דַּעְתִּי לִפְנֵי דַּעַת הַמְרֻבִּין שֶׁאוֹמְרִים חַיָּב וְנֹאמַר חַיָּב עִמָּהֶם״. לָזֶה בָּא הַכָּתוּב וְצִוָּה עַל זֶה בְּדִיּוּק לְבַל עֲשׂוֹתוֹ, וְאָמַר **לֹא תִהְיֶה אַחֲרֵי רַבִּים לְרָעֹת**, פֵּרוּשׁ, כְּשֶׁתִּהְיֶה סוֹבֵר סְבָרָא אַחַת שֶׁבְּאָמְרְךָ דַּעְתְּךָ יֵצֵא זֶה הַנִּדּוֹן חַיָּב בְּדִינוֹ, וּכְגוֹן שֶׁכֻּלָּם אָמְרוּ חַיָּב וְאַתָּה חוֹשֵׁב זַכַּאי, לֹא תִתְחַכֵּם לִהְיוֹת אַחֲרֵי רַבִּים שֶׁאוֹמְרִים חַיָּב, וְהוּא אָמְרוֹ **לְרָעֹת**, וְתֹאמַר אַתָּה כְּדַעְתָּם חַיָּב הֵפֶךְ מַה שֶּׁנִּרְאֶה לְךָ כְּדֵי שֶׁיֵּצֵא זַכַּאי כְּדַעְתְּךָ, אֶלָּא אֱמוֹר דַּעְתְּךָ כְּפִי מַה שֶׁיָּדַעְתָּ בְּמִשְׁפְּטֵי הַתּוֹרָה, וְאֵין לְךָ לְהִתְחַכֵּם עַל הַמִּשְׁפָּט כִּי ה׳ הוּא הָאֱלֹהִים, וְהוּא שֶׁאָמַר פָּתְחוּ כֻּלָּם לְחוֹבָה זַכַּאי, לֹא אָמַר ה׳ שֶׁיִּזְכֶּה זֶה אֶלָּא אִם לְךָ יֵרָאֶה חַיָּב וְלֹא שֶׁיֵּרָאֶה לְךָ זַכַּאי, שֶׁאָז חַיָּב הוּא כְּמִשְׁפַּט הָאֱלֹהִים.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
Our verse intends to remove two obstacles which may mislead a scholar when he ponders the meaning of this ruling. 1) When a judge sits in a collegium of judges and he notices that all his colleagues have made up their minds that the accused is guilty, whereas he feels that the accused is innocent, he may say to himself that by voting according to his conscience the accused will be executed seeing there are already two quorums, one which votes "guilty" and one which could vote "innocent;" this judge may say to himself that if he too votes "guilty" the accused would be freed seeing the guilty vote would be unanimous, the result he has been arguing for. He will justify his behaviour by recalling the dictum of the sages that when faced by a majority one must not insist on one's own opinion. The Torah instructs such a judge not to apply this dictum when voting to indict someone. One must only vote one's own conscience even if the **result** of such a vote does not correspond to one's wishes or convictions. The Torah uses the word לרעות advisedly, telling such a judge he would do something evil by voting with the majority in order to thwart their purpose. Such a judge is to remember that in the final analysis G'd is the judge; if G'd instructed the judges to let the accused go free in the event they agree unanimously that he is guilty, this does not give the dissenting judge the right to play G'd, i.e. to be the final arbiter of the fate of the accused.


###### Or HaChaim on Exodus 23:2:3
[Or HaChaim on Exodus 23:2:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Exodus/r/23:2:3)

**עוֹד** יֵשׁ מִכְשׁוֹל שֵׁנִי בְּמִשְׁפָּט זֶה בְּאֹפֶן אַחֵר, וְהוּא אִם יֵרָאֶה בְּעֵינֵי חָכָם שֶׁהוּא חַיָּב כְּכָל הַדַּיָּנִים שֶׁאָמְרוּ חַיָּב, וְרוֹאֶה שֶׁאִם יֹאמַר חַיָּב הִנֵּה הוּא יוֹצֵא זַכַּאי הֵפֶךְ דְּבָרָיו שֶׁאוֹמֵר חַיָּב, לָזֶה יִתְחַכֵּם לוֹמַר זַכַּאי כְּדֵי שֶׁיֻּטֶּה הַמִּשְׁפָּט אַחֲרֵי רַבִּים שֶׁאוֹמְרִים חַיָּב וְיֵצֵא חַיָּב כְּפִי סְבָרָתוֹ, וְיֵשׁ בָּזֶה גַּם כֵּן כְּפִיַּת רֹאשׁ בִּגְמַר הַמִּשְׁפָּט לִנְטוֹת אַחֲרֵי רַבִּים. לָזֶה אָמַר **וְלֹא תַעֲנֶה עַל רִיב** וְגוֹ׳, פֵּרוּשׁ לֹא תַעֲנֶה מַעֲנֶה עַל רִיב לִנְטוֹת **אַחֲרֵי רַבִּים**, פֵּרוּשׁ, שֶׁתִּהְיֶה כַּוָּנָתְךָ בְּמַעַנְךָ כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּהְיֶה כְּמִשְׁפַּט יָחִיד וְרַבִּים, וְזֶה יַגִּיד שֶׁאִם יְגַלֶּה דַּעְתּוֹ כְּמוֹת שֶׁהוּא אֵין כָּאן הַטָּיָה אַחֲרֵי רַבִּים אֶלָּא כֻּלָּם בְּדַעַת אַחַת. וּבֵאֵר הַכָּתוּב טַעַם הַקְפָּדָתוֹ עַל הַדָּבָר וְאָמַר **לְהַטֹּת**, פֵּרוּשׁ כְּשֶׁתִּהְיֶה כַּוָּנָתְךָ לְהַטּוֹת מִמַּה שֶׁבְּדַעְתְּךָ בְּעִיּוּן מִשְׁפַּט הַתּוֹרָה שֶׁהוּא חַיָּב וְאַתָּה מַטֶּה לוֹמַר זַכַּאי כְּדֵי שֶׁיֵּצֵא חַיָּב לִנְטוֹת אַחֲרֵי רַבִּים וְיֵצֵא חַיָּב, אֶלָּא אֱמוֹר דַּעְתְּךָ הֲגַם שֶׁיֵּצֵא זַכַּאי הֵפֶךְ דַּעְתְּךָ – ה׳ זִכָּהוּ. וְטַעַם מִשְׁפָּט זֶה לְצַד כִּי ה׳ יוֹשֵׁב בִּמְסִבַּת הַדַּיָּנִים וְהוּא יִשְׁפֹּט בְּפִיהֶם, וּכְשֶׁיִּרְאֶה מִשְׁפָּט מְרֻמֶּה וְאֵין בּוֹ מְצִיאוּת לְזַכּוֹת הַזַּכַּאי יִתְחַכֵּם לִפְתֹּחַ כֻּלָּן לְחוֹבָה וְצִוָּה שֶׁיֵּצֵא זַכַּאי בָּזֶה:

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
There is still a second obstacle that a judge may face in such situations. Assume that the judge in question is convinced of the guilt of the accused. He is aware that his opinion is shared by all his colleagues. The judge in question realises that if he votes his conscience, i.e. "guilty," this will make the vote unanimous and result in the accused (whom he thinks of as guilty) going free. In order to prevent this from happening our judge resolves to vote "innocent" in order to ensure that the accused will be convicted. By doing so our judge convinces himself that he merely ensures that the majority will prevail, a laudatory objective. However, morally speaking, this too is a way in which a single judge imposes the outcome of a trial on the majority. To prevent this from happening the Torah wrote לא תענה על ריב לנטות **אחרי רבים**, "neither shall you vote in a dispute so as to ensure the vote will be based on a majority (as opposed to unanimity)." The Torah explained the reason for this legislation as being להטות, i.e. that the individual judge in question attempts to pervert the outcome of the proceedings by not voting his conscience.


###### Or HaChaim on Exodus 23:3:1
[Or HaChaim on Exodus 23:3:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Exodus/r/23:3:1)

**וְדָל לֹא תֶהְדַּר בְּרִיבוֹ.** יִרְמוֹז בְּתֵיבַת **בְּרִיבוֹ** עַל דֶּרֶךְ אָמְרָם זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (ויקרא רבה לד) כִּי הֶעָנִי עוֹשֶׂה מְרִיבָה עִם קוֹנוֹ לָמָּה זָן לַכֹּל וְהוּא בְּרָעָב וּבְעֵירוֹם, וְכָל הַנּוֹתֵן פְּרוּטָה לֶעָנִי וּמְפַרְנְסוֹ הֲרֵי זֶה מַשְׁבִּית רִיב עָנִי מֵעַל הַשָּׁמַיִם, וּבִזְמַן שֶׁאֵין חוֹנֵן דַּלִּים טַעֲנַת עָנִי הִיא טַעֲנָה הַנִּשְׁמַעַת וּמְהוּדֶּרֶת, וְלָזֶה יְצַו ה׳ שֶׁלֹּא יְסוֹבְבוּ הִדּוּר לְרִיב הֶעָנִי עִם קוֹנוֹ אֶלָּא יְחוֹנְנוּהוּ כְּמִשְׁפַּט חוֹנֵן דַּלִּים.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**ודל לא תהדר בריבו, "And do not favour the poor in his litigation."** The extra word בריבו contains a moral/ethical message based on *Vayikra Rabbah* 34, that the poor is liable to engage in a confrontation with G'd asking Him why He supplies everyone else with their needs whereas he is hungry and naked. Everyone who gives even a copper coin to a poor and thereby stills his hunger prevents the poor from complaining to G'd and accusing Him that G'd is not gracious to the poor. On the other hand, at times when no one on earth is gracious to the poor, his argument is very powerful. The Torah therefore commands us not to contribute to strengthening the voice of the poor who accuse G'd of insensitivity to their fate.


###### Or HaChaim on Exodus 23:6:1
[Or HaChaim on Exodus 23:6:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Exodus/r/23:6:1)

**לֹא תַטֶּה מִשְׁפַּט אֶבְיוֹנְךָ.** אוּלַי שֶׁצִּוָּה ה׳ עַל מִשְׁפַּט הָעֲנִיִּים, עַל דֶּרֶךְ אָמְרָם זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (בבא מציעא עא,א) ״עֲנִיֶּיךָ וַעֲנִיֵּי עִירְךָ וְכוּ׳, עֲנִיֵּי עִירְךָ וַעֲנִיֵּי עִיר אַחֶרֶת – עֲנִיֵּי עִירְךָ קוֹדְמִין״, וְלָזֶה בָּא הַמִּצְוָה כָּאן בְּלָאו לְבַל יַטֶּה מִשְׁפָּט הַקָּדוּם לְאַחֲרוֹ, וְהוּא אָמְרוֹ ״אֶבְיוֹנְךָ״.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**לא תטה משפט אביונך, "Do not subvert the right of your needy, etc."** Perhaps the emphasis is on the ending "your" in the word אביונך. We have learned in *Baba Metzia* 71 that the poor of your family take precedence in their claim to handouts over the unrelated poor of your city, whereas the local poor take precedence over the poor from other cities. The Torah warns here that we must not pervert this rule when setting out to do charity. "Your own needy" must always be the first on your list of charities.


###### Or HaChaim on Exodus 23:7:1
[Or HaChaim on Exodus 23:7:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Exodus/r/23:7:1)

**כִּי לֹא אַצְדִּיק רָשָׁע.** לְדִבְרֵיהֶם זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (סנהדרין לג:) שֶׁפֵּרְשׁוּ ״נָקִי״ – זֶה מִי שֶׁיֵּשׁ עָלָיו מַגִּיד זְכוּת, וְ״צַדִּיק״ – זֶה מִי שֶׁיָּצָא צַדִּיק בְּדִינוֹ וְיֵשׁ עָלָיו מַגִּיד חוֹבָה, יְכַוֵּן הַכָּתוּב לוֹמַר טַעַם הַדְּבָרִים שֶׁלֹּא תֹּאמַר אֵיךְ אַחַר שֶׁנִּגְמַר דִּינוֹ לְחוֹבָה יַחְזֹר הַדִּין לִזְכוּת, לָזֶה אָמַר **כִּי לֹא אַצְדִּיק רָשָׁע**, פֵּרוּשׁ, מִמָּה נַפְשָׁךְ, אִם מַה שֶׁיָּצָא חַיָּב הוּא כְּפִי הָאֱמֶת וְהַצֶּדֶק – לֹא אַצְדִּיק רָשָׁע וְלֹא יוֹעִיל הַמְּלַמֵּד זְכוּת, וְאִם מַה שֶׁיָּצָא חַיָּב הָיָה שֶׁלֹּא כְּפִי הַדִּין – לָמָּה יְבֻלַּע נָקִי חִנָּם. וּכְנֶגֶד חֲלֻקַּת מִי שֶׁיָּצָא צַדִּיק בְּדִינוֹ אָמַר גַּם כֵּן **כִּי לֹא אַצְדִּיק רָשָׁע**, פֵּרוּשׁ, כֵּיוָן שֶׁיָּצָא צַדִּיק לֹא הִצְדַּקְתִּיהוּ וְהוּא רָשָׁע, כִּי אֱלֹהִים נִצָּב בַּעֲדַת אֵל וּבְקֶרֶב אֱלֹהִים יִשְׁפֹּט וְהוּא שׁוֹפֵט בְּצֶדֶק, וּמִן הַנִּמְנָע שֶׁיַּחְתֹּם ה׳ עַל דְּבַר שֶׁקֶר חָס וְשָׁלוֹם. וְצֵא וּלְמַד אָמְרָם זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (כתובות כא:) דְּאָסוּר לְמֶחְתַּם עַל מִלְּתָא דְּמִתְחֲזֵי כְּשִׁקְרָא. וְאִם תֹּאמַר וְלָמָּה אֵין אָנוּ אוֹמְרִים כֵּן בְּיָצָא חַיָּב, יֵשׁ לְךָ לָדַעַת כִּי ה׳ יִנָּחֵם עַל הָרָעָה וְלֹא יִנָּחֵם עַל הַטּוֹבָה, וּמִי שֶׁיָּצָא חַיָּב חָזַר בּוֹ ה׳ לְזַכּוֹתוֹ, אֲבָל מִי שֶׁיָּצָא זַכַּאי לֹא יִנָּחֵם ה׳ מֵהַטּוֹבָה, וְלִפְעָמִים יַסְפִּיק לָאָדָם זֶה עִנּוּי זֶה שֶׁיָּצָא מִשְׁפָּטוֹ חַיָּב וְאֵימוֹת מָוֶת יַגִּיעוּהוּ בִּרְאוֹתוֹ כִּי נִגְמַר דִּינוֹ לָמוּת, וְלָזֶה אַחַר כָּךְ בְּקֶרֶב אֱלֹהִים יִשְׁפֹּט לְזַכּוֹתוֹ.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**כי לא אצדיק רשע, "for I will not acquit the wicked."** According to *Sanhedrin* 33 the term נקי refers to someone who testifies that he knows of evidence in favour of a person who has been convicted of a certain misdemeanour. In such a case the trial is re-opened. The expression צדיק in our verse, on the other hand, refers to a person against whom accusations are levelled **after** he has been acquitted. The Torah states therefore, that once a person has been acquitted of a certain crime he cannot be tried for it a second time. G'd reassures the reader that in the event the acquittal by the court was based on an error, He, G'd, will not allow the person who parades as a צדיק to go scot free. The Torah does not want us to think that seeing a person has been found guilty, "how can the verdict be overturned by fresh evidence?" The Torah answers simply: If the original conviction was fair and corresponded to the facts, I, G'd, will not allow such a person to get away with it even if he is found innocent in his second trial. The testimony on his behalf will not ultimately result in a perversion of justice. If, on the other hand, the original conviction was based on error, why should the person who can offer testimony on behalf of the convicted be ignored? Concerning the person who had been acquitted and against whom fresh evidence has been found, the Torah simply states that the fact that the court declared someone innocent does not necessarily mean that he is innocent in the eyes of G'd too. G'd has His own court and it is quite inconceivable that G'd would seal a decree by a human court which is erroneous. We are taught in *Ketuvot* 21 that it is forbidden for anyone to sign a document which appears to be fraudulent. You may well ask why we do not apply the same principle, i.e. that a court erred, and re-open the trial of someone who had been freed before new evidence against him had come to light? I believe we can best answer this by recalling that G'd "regrets" something evil on occasion. He does not, however, "regret" a decision which was favourable. As a result of this consideration, if a person has once been acquitted he is not subjected to a trial again for the same alleged offence. When a person has been found guilty in his first trial, the suffering he endured until he was finally exonerated in a second trial may even approximate the suffering experienced while he faced execution for a sin not comitted. He may therefore ultimately be exonerated by a Heavenly tribunal even for sins committed for which he had not been tried at all.


###### Or HaChaim on Exodus 23:9:1
[Or HaChaim on Exodus 23:9:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Exodus/r/23:9:1)

**וְאַתֶּם יְדַעְתֶּם אֶת נֶפֶשׁ וְגוֹ׳.** עַיֵּן מַה שֶׁכָּתַבְתִּי בְּפָסוּק (שמות כב:כ) ״וְגֵר לֹא תוֹנֶה״, וּפָסוּק זֶה יַצְדִּיק לְךָ כָּל מַה שֶׁכָּתַבְתִּי לְךָ.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**ואתם ידעתם את נפש הגר, "and you are familiar with the way a stranger feels."** Compare what I have written on 22,20 "you must not disadvantage the stranger." The present verse is proof of the truth of what I have written there.


###### Or HaChaim on Exodus 23:10:1
[Or HaChaim on Exodus 23:10:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Exodus/r/23:10:1)

**וְשֵׁשׁ שָׁנִים וְגוֹ׳.** סָמַךְ מִצְוָה זוֹ לְמַה שֶׁלְּפָנֶיהָ, לוֹמַר כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא תִּטְעֲמוּ טַעַם גֵּרוּת עוֹד, עַל דֶּרֶךְ אָמְרוֹ (ויקרא כו:לד) ״אָז תִּרְצֶה הָאָרֶץ אֶת שַׁבְּתוֹתֶיהָ״ וְגוֹ׳:

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**ושש שנים תזרע את ארצך, and for six years you will seed your land, etc.** This commandment is connected to the previous one warning us how to avoid the taste of being an alien, i.e. an exiled person similar to what is written in Leviticus 26,34: "then the land will make up for its sabbaths, etc."


###### Or HaChaim on Exodus 23:12:1
[Or HaChaim on Exodus 23:12:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Exodus/r/23:12:1)

**תַּעֲשֶׂה מַעֲשֶׂיךָ.** וְלֹא ״כָּל מַעֲשֶׂיךָ״ כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמַר בַּעֲשֶׂרֶת הַדִּבְּרוֹת, כִּי בְּשֵׁשֶׁת יָמִים שֶׁל שְׁנַת הַשְּׁמִיטָה שֶׁעָלֶיהָ חוֹזֵר צִוּוּי שַׁבָּת כָּאן, אֵינוֹ יָכוֹל לַעֲשׂוֹת כָּל מְלַאכְתּוֹ, כִּי מְלֶאכֶת אֲדָמָה אֲסוּרָה לוֹ כָּאָמוּר בְּסָמוּךְ.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**תעשה מעשיך, "you shall do your work, etc."** The Torah was careful not to write: "all your work" as in the Ten Commandments (concerning the Sabbath). The reason is that during the Shmittah year the farmer cannot do his regular work even on the six days of the week.


###### Or HaChaim on Exodus 23:13:1
[Or HaChaim on Exodus 23:13:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Exodus/r/23:13:1)

**וּבְכֹל אֲשֶׁר אָמַרְתִּי וְגוֹ׳.** טַעַם אָמְרוֹ **וּבְכֹל** וְגוֹ׳ **תִּשָּׁמֵרוּ** וְלֹא אָמַר וְכָל אֲשֶׁר וְגוֹ׳ תִּשָּׁמֵרוּ, יְכַוֵּן לוֹמַר עַל דֶּרֶךְ אָמְרָם זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (מכות כג:) כִּי מִנְיַן מִצְווֹת עֲשֵׂה הֵם רמ״ח כְּנֶגֶד רמ״ח אֵבָרִים שֶׁל אָדָם וְשס״ה לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה הֵם כְּנֶגֶד שס״ה גִּידָיו (זהר ח״א קע:), וְהוּא מַה שֶׁרָמַז שֶׁלֹּא יֹאמַר אָדָם אֲקַיֵּם כָּךְ וְכָךְ מִצְווֹת וְיַסְפִּיקוּ לִשְׁמִירָתִי, לָזֶה אָמַר **וּבְכֹל אֲשֶׁר** וְגוֹ׳ פֵּרוּשׁ בְּכָל הַמִּצְווֹת תִּהְיוּ נִשְׁמָרִים וּבְחֶסְרוֹן אֶחָד מֵהֶם תֶּחְסַר הַשְּׁמִירָה לְאוֹתוֹ אֵבָר הַמְכֻוָּן לָהּ.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**ובבל אשר אמרתי, "and in all things that I have said, etc."** The reason the Torah writes ובכל ..תשמרו instead of simply וכל אשר…תשמרו, is connected to the statement of the sages (*Makkot* 23) that the number of positive commandments is 248, corresponding to man's limbs, whereas the 365 negative commandments correspond to the number of sinews in the human body (compare *Zohar* volume one page 78). A person should not say: "I am going to observe a sufficient number of commandments in order to safeguard the health of my body. By writing ובכל, the Torah hints strongly that our good health and well being will depend on our observing **all** of the commandments.


###### Or HaChaim on Exodus 23:13:2
[Or HaChaim on Exodus 23:13:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Exodus/r/23:13:2)

**וְשֵׁם אֱלֹהִים וְגוֹ׳.** בָּא לוֹמַר, כְּשֵׁם שֶׁשְּׁמִירַת כָּל הַמִּצְווֹת תּוֹעִיל לְכָל אָדָם לְמִנְיַן אֵבָרָיו וְשס״ה גִּידָיו, כְּמוֹ כֵן יֵשׁ שְׁמִירָה לִכְלָלוּת הָאָדָם בִּכְפִירַת עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה, שֶׁכָּל הַכּוֹפֵר בַּעֲבוֹדָה זָרָה כְּמוֹדֶה בְּכָל הַתּוֹרָה, וְיַחְזִיק בְּשׁוֹמֵר וְעוֹשֶׂה כָּל אֲשֶׁר תִּמְצָא יָדוֹ עֲשׂוֹת, וְיִהְיוּ נִשְׁמָרִים בְּאֶמְצָעוּת כְּפִירַת עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה כָּל אֵיבָרָיו וְגִידָיו, הֲגַם שֶׁלֹּא עָשָׂה הַמִּצְוָה הַהִיא וְלֹא בָּאָה לְיָדוֹ הָעֲבֵרָה וְנִשְׁמַר מִמֶּנָּה. וְדַוְקָא מִן הַסְּתָם, אֲבָל אִם מְבַטֵּל לְהֶדְיָא קְצָת מֵהַמִּצְווֹת – לֹא יִהְיֶה נִשְׁמָר בְּאוֹתוֹ אֵבָר הַמְכֻוָּן לְאוֹתָהּ מִצְוָה שֶׁמְּבַטֵּל לְצַד כְּפִירָתוֹ בַּעֲבוֹדָה זָרָה.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**ושם אלוהים אחרים לא תזבירו, "and you shall not mention the name of other deities, etc."** The Torah means that just as the observance of all the commandments will help man to make all of his 248 limbs and 365 sinews function properly, so there is also an overall protection for man which results from his denial of any form of idolatry. Anyone denying idolatry is considered as if he had accepted the entire Torah and would actively assist all those who are engaged in observing Torah and its commandments. As a result, all the various parts of such a person's body will enjoy protection even if he had not performed certain commandments (because the opportunity did not arise), or he had not been able to demonstrate that he would not violate certain of the Torah's injunctions if given a chance to do so. Such "overall" protection of a person due to his denial of idolatry would not accrue to him if he had ignored or violated one or more of the commandments deliberately, however. The limb or sinew which is "connected" to fulfilment of that particular commandment may then experience pain or malfunction.


###### Or HaChaim on Exodus 23:15:1
[Or HaChaim on Exodus 23:15:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Exodus/r/23:15:1)

**כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוִּיתִיךָ.** לְפִי שֶׁיֵּשׁ הַרְבֵּה פִּרְטֵי מִצְווֹת שֶׁלֹּא נִתְפָּרְשׁוּ כָּאן, הָא׳ שֶׁצָּרִיךְ לִהְיוֹת מַצָּה מִדָּבָר הַבָּא לִידֵי חִמּוּץ (פסחים לה:), ב׳ שֶׁלֹּא יֵצֵא יְדֵי חוֹבָתוֹ בְּמַעֲשֵׂה קְדֵרָה, ג׳ שֶׁלֹּא יִהְיֶה חָמֵץ מִיּוֹם טוֹב רִאשׁוֹן, וְכָל זֶה מְפֹרָשׁ בְּפָרָשַׁת בֹּא כַּמְּבֹאָר בַּמְּכִילְתָּא, לָזֶה אָמַר **כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוִּיתִיךָ** לִרְמֹז לִתְנָאֵי הַמִּצְוָה הַנִּזְכָּרִים.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**כאשר צויתיך, "as I have commanded you."** These words refer to details of commandments which have not been spelled out in the written Torah, such as that Matzah must be made of dough which could rise if allowed to stand. If it is made made of flour made out of rice for instance, it could not be used to fulfil the commandment that we must eat unleavened bread on Passover night. There are many other examples of such details of commandments not spelled out in the written Torah.


###### Or HaChaim on Exodus 23:16:1
[Or HaChaim on Exodus 23:16:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Exodus/r/23:16:1)

**בִּכּוּרֵי מַעֲשֶׂיךָ.** פֵּרוּשׁ, לְמַעֵט דְּעָיֵיל בְּיַד גּוֹי שֶׁאֵינוֹ מַעֲשָׂיו, וּכְמוֹ שֶׁמִּיעֵט בְּאָמְרוֹ ״קְצִירְכֶם״ (ויקרא כג:י), כְּמוֹ שֶׁדָּרְשׁוּ בְּרֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה (ראש השנה יג.), שֶׁכָּל שֶׁהֵבִיאָה שְׁלִישׁ בְּיַד גּוֹי לֹא יָבִיא מִמֶּנָּה בִּכּוּרִים.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**בכורי מעשיך, "the first fruits of your labours."** This excludes crops raised by a Gentile. His work is not considered a Jew's accomplishment. We are taught in *Rosh Hashanah* 13 that if the crop has grown to one third of its final size while still under the care or ownership of a Gentile, it does not qualify as something from which this gift of בכורים can be presented to the Priest. This ruling is based on Leviticus 23,10: "the first of **your** harvests."


###### Or HaChaim on Exodus 23:19:1
[Or HaChaim on Exodus 23:19:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Exodus/r/23:19:1)

**רֵאשִׁית בִּכּוּרֵי וְגוֹ׳.** אוּלַי שֶׁיִּרְמֹז שֶׁלֹּא יַשְׁחִית זַרְעוֹ, וְשֶׁתִּהְיֶה טִפָּה רִאשׁוֹנָה שֶׁתֵּצֵא מִמֶּנּוּ מוּבֵאת בֵּית ה׳, עַל דֶּרֶךְ אָמְרָם (יומא ב,א) בֵּיתוֹ זוֹ אִשְׁתּוֹ.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**ראשית בכורי אדמתך, "The choicest first-fruits of your soil, etc."** Perhaps the Torah hints here that one must not destroy one's seed (semen) and that the son born of one's first seminal emission should be dedicated to the service of the Lord (compare *Yuma* 2 according to which the word ביתו is an oblique reference to one's wife)


###### Or HaChaim on Exodus 23:19:2
[Or HaChaim on Exodus 23:19:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Exodus/r/23:19:2)

וְדִיֵּק לוֹמַר **בֵּית ה׳** לִשְׁלוֹל בֵּית אִשָּׁה זוֹנָה, וְהוּא מִצְוָה שֶׁקִּיֵּם יַעֲקֹב אָבִינוּ עָלָיו הַשָּׁלוֹם, דִּכְתִיב (בראשית מט:ג) ״כֹּחִי וְרֵאשִׁית אוֹנִי״.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
The Torah emphasises "the house of the Lord your G'd," to exclude that such a son be brought to a brothel. Jacob performed this commandment as he said of himself when blessing Reuven: "you are my strength and the first fruit of my virility" (Genesis 49,3).


###### Or HaChaim on Exodus 23:19:3
[Or HaChaim on Exodus 23:19:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Exodus/r/23:19:3)

וְגָמַר אָמְרוֹ **לֹא תְבַשֵּׁל גְּדִי בַּחֲלֵב אִמּוֹ** לִרְמֹז סוֹד גָּדוֹל, כִּי הַמַּשְׁחִיתִים זַרְעָם סוֹבְבִים מִיתַת הַקְּטַנִּים מִבֵּין שְׁדֵי אִמָּם, וּכְמוֹ שֶׁפֵּרַשׁ הַדָּבָר בְּאָמְרוֹ בְּפָסוּק (מיכה ו:ז) ״הַאֶתֵּן בְּכוֹרִי פִּשְׁעִי פְּרִי בִטְנִי חַטַּאת נַפְשִׁי״, כִּי כְּשֶׁאָדָם מַשְׁחִית זַרְעוֹ נִבְרָא מִמֶּנּוּ מַשְׁחִית רַע וְהוּא שׁוֹלֵט אַחַר כָּךְ בַּבֵּן הַיֻּלָּד, וְהֵם נְפָשׁוֹת הָעֲשׁוּקוֹת כָּאָמוּר בְּסֵפֶר הַזֹּהַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ (חלק א רי״ט.), וּמִי גָּרַם זֶה שֶׁלֹּא הֵבִיא בִּכּוּרָיו בֵּית ה׳.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
The conclusion of our verse in which the Torah directs us not to boil the kid in the milk of its mother contains another important moral/ethical lesson. When a man deliberately destroys his semen he is the cause of infants dying while they still suckle at the breast of their mother. I have explained this matter in connection with Michah 6,7: "Shall I give my first-born for my transgression, the fruit of my body for my sins?" When man destroys his semen he creates a destructive force. This destructive force gains control later over a son who is born to such a father. The souls of such children are considered as עשוקות, "oppressed or deprived," as explained in the *Zohar* volume one page 219. The reason for this is that their father failed to dedicate his first emission of semen for the creation of a life devoted to the service of the Lord.


###### Or HaChaim on Exodus 23:19:4
[Or HaChaim on Exodus 23:19:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Exodus/r/23:19:4)

וּכְפִי דֶּרֶךְ הַפְּשָׁט, טַעַם סָמַךְ **לֹא תְבַשֵּׁל** וְגוֹ׳ עִם הַבִּכּוּרִים, לְהָאוֹמֵר (חולין קיד:) בָּשָׂר בְּחָלָב אָסוּר בַּהֲנָאָה שֶׁהוּא עִקַּר הַהֲלָכָה, נִתְכַּוֵּן לְסָמְכוֹ עִם הַבִּכּוּרִים לֶהֱיוֹת שֶׁהֵם אֲסוּרִים בַּהֲנָאָה (רמב״ם הלכות ביכורים פרק ב), וְעַיֵּן בְּסִפְרִי פְּרִי תֹאַר:

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
According to the opinion that the legislation of mixing milk and meat results in a prohibition of any benefit from such a mixture, this would explain why this legislation adjoins that of the bringing of the first-fruits to the Temple seeing that such first-fruits are also totally prohibited to their owner (compare *Chulin* 114 and Maimonides *Hilchot Bikkurim* 2, who declares that one must not use בכורים which have become ritually defiled for heating the stove). I have written more about this in my book פרי תואר.


###### Or HaChaim on Exodus 23:20:1
[Or HaChaim on Exodus 23:20:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Exodus/r/23:20:1)

**הִנֵּה אָנֹכִי וְגוֹ׳.** פֵּרוּשׁ, מַלְאָךְ זֶה הוּא הַמַּלְאָךְ הַגּוֹאֵל אֶת הָאָבוֹת, לֹא מְשָׁרֵת מִמְּשָׁרְתָיו, אֶלָּא מַלְאָךְ גָּדוֹל כַּיָּדוּעַ לַמַּשְׂכִּילִים, כִּי אֵין אָנוּ מַכִּירִים מַלְאָךְ אֶמְצָעִי אֶלָּא הוּא יִתְבָּרַךְ וּשְׁכִינַת עֻזּוֹ הַמִּתְיַחֶדֶת עִמּוֹ בְּסוֹד (זכריה יד:ט) ״ה׳ אֶחָד וּשְׁמוֹ אֶחָד״.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**הנה אנכי שולח מלאך לפניך, "Here I am sending an angel ahead of you, etc."** The author feels that the angel described here is not an intermediary, one of G'd's ministering angels, but the "great angel," the one who redeemed the patriarchs, a concept familiar to Kabbalists. He says that by definition we do not recognise a force as an intermediary, i.e. an independent power to whom we have to show respect and obeisance. [I believe that the reason for this statement is that reading verses 21 and 22 could lead one to believe that G'd inserted some angel **between** Himself and us. Ed.] Only at the end of time, will the world recognise that G'd and His name (those speaking in His name, such as angels) are One; compare Zachariah 14,9.


###### Or HaChaim on Exodus 23:21:1
[Or HaChaim on Exodus 23:21:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Exodus/r/23:21:1)

**הִשָּׁמֶר מִפָּנָיו וְגוֹ׳.** כָּאן צִוָּה עַל מִצְווֹת עֲשֵׂה וּמִצְווֹת לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה, כְּנֶגֶד מִצְווֹת לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה אָמַר **הִשָּׁמֶר** וְגוֹ׳, כִּי כָל הִשָּׁמֶר וְגוֹ׳ לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה, וּכְנֶגֶד מִצְווֹת עֲשֵׂה אָמַר **וּשְׁמַע בְּקוֹלוֹ**:

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**השמר מפניו, "Take heed of him, etc."** In this verse G'd defines our relationship with this angel as involving both a positive and a negative commandment. The negative commandment is contained in the words השמר מפניו, just as in all other places where the word השמר introduces a negative commandment. The positive commandment is contained in the words ושמע בקולו, "listen to his voice."


###### Or HaChaim on Exodus 23:21:2
[Or HaChaim on Exodus 23:21:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Exodus/r/23:21:2)

**אַל תַּמֵּר בּוֹ.** כָּאן רָמַז לִפְעֻלַּת הָאָדָם אֲשֶׁר תְּסוֹבֵב תְּמוּרַת טוֹב בְּרַע וְעֶבֶד מוֹלֵךְ וְשִׁפְחָה יוֹרֶשֶׁת גְּבִרְתָּהּ (משלי ל:כג), וְעַל יְדֵי זֶה יִתְנַקֵּם נָקָם מֵהָעוֹשֶׂה תְּמוּרָה וְלֹא יִשָּׂא לְפִשְׁעֲכֶם. גַּם מַלְאָךְ זֶה יָדוּעַ הוּא כִּי הוּא בְּחִינַת הַמִּשְׁפָּט וְלֹא יִשָּׂא עָוֹן כְּאָמְרוֹ **לֹא יִשָּׂא** וְגוֹ׳, וְאָמְרוֹ **כִּי שְׁמִי בְּקִרְבּוֹ** הִשְׂכִּילוּ בַּדָּבָר הַזֶּה כִּי בְּאֶמְצָעוּת חֵטְא הָאָדָם יְסוֹבֵב פְּרֵדַת אַלּוּף מִקִּרְבּוֹ. וְאַשְׂכִּילְךָ כִּי מטט״רון הַקָּדוֹשׁ אָמְרוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (סנהדרין לח:) שְׁמוֹ כְּשֵׁם רַבּוֹ, וְהוּא שד״י, כִּי עוֹלֶה מִסְפַּר עַצְמוֹ שֶׁל הַשֵּׁם, וּבְחֵטְא הָאָדָם יִסְתַּלֵּק שֵׁם שד״י מִמֶּנּוּ, וְהוּא סוֹד אָמְרוֹ (ישעיהו יט:ה) ״וְנָהָר יֶחֱרַב״ וְגוֹ׳, וְהִשְׂכִּיל לֵב מַשְׂכִּיל בַּדְּבָרִים בְּאָמְרוֹ **כִּי אִם שָׁמוֹעַ תִּשְׁמַע בְּקוֹלוֹ** כִּמְדַבֵּר עַל זוּלַת, וְגָמַר אָמְרוֹ **וְעָשִׂיתָ אֶת אֲשֶׁר אֲדַבֵּר** וְלֹא אָמַר אֲשֶׁר יְדַבֵּר, לוֹמַר כִּי שְׁמִי בְּקִרְבּוֹ וְהָבֵן:

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**אל תמר בו, "do not rebel against him;"** Here too the Torah contains a moral/ethical lesson in addition to the plain meaning of the words. The Torah hints that exchanging good for evil will result in the king being replaced by a slave and the maidservant inheriting the authority of the mistress (compare Proverbs 30,23). The message is that when Israel is sinful it will be subject to an attribute of G'd which takes "revenge" rather than elevates sins to a lesser level. The angel under discussion is not authorised to do this. When the Torah speaks of כי שמי בקרבו, this means that man has forfeited the presence of G'd in his midst because of his sins, and G'd's former presence within man is now centred in that angel. *Sanhedrin* 38 teaches that the numerical value of מטטרון, Mattaron (the angel G'd appointed in charge of running the universe), is the same as that of his Master, G'd's attribute שדי,=314. When man sins, G'd no longer considers Himself as "his" G'd, i.e. שדי. This is the mystical dimension of Isaiah 19,5: ונהר יחרב ויבש, "the river will fail and dry up." The intelligent reader will comprehend that the words כי אם שמוע תשמע **בקולו**, "if you will surely listen to **his** voice," sounds as if G'd is speaking about a third person, whereas the Torah continues: ועשית את אשר **אדבר**, "and you will do what I say." G'd was careful not to say **אשר ידבר**, "which **he** will say," in order to remind us that His name is in the midst of the Jewish people.


###### Or HaChaim on Exodus 23:22:1
[Or HaChaim on Exodus 23:22:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Exodus/r/23:22:1)

**וְאָיַבְתִּי וְגוֹ׳.** אוּלַי שֶׁיִּרְמֹז כִּי בְּאֶמְצָעוּת עֵסֶק הַתּוֹרָה וְהַמִּצְוָה, הִנֵּה הָאָדוֹן יַעֲקֹר שֹׁרֶשׁ הַקְּלִפָּה וַעֲנָפֶיהָ, שֶׁהֵם הַמְּסִיתִים וְהַמַּדִּיחִים וְהַמְּבַקְשִׁים לְהַשְׁפִּיל דֶּגֶל הַתּוֹרָה. וְעַיֵּן מַה שֶׁפֵּרַשְׁתִּי בְּפָרָשַׁת בְּרֵאשִׁית בְּמַעֲשֵׂה קַיִן בְּהִתְוַכְּחוּת הָאָדוֹן עִמּוֹ (בראשית ד:ט-טו).

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**ואיבתי את אויביך, "For I will be an enemy unto your enemies, etc."** Perhaps the Torah hints here that by means of busying oneself with Torah and the performance of its commandments G'd will uproot the source of the קליפה, i.e. Satan, as well as the various branches which are constantly active trying to seduce people and thereby to degrade and dishonour the banner of Torah. You are advised to read what I have written in connection with the confrontation between Cain and G'd in Genesis 4,9-15.


###### Or HaChaim on Exodus 23:23:1
[Or HaChaim on Exodus 23:23:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Exodus/r/23:23:1)

**וֶהֱבִיאֲךָ וְגוֹ׳ וְהִכְחַדְתִּיו.** יְכַוֵּן כִּי בְּאֶמְצָעוּת הַכְנָסַת יִשְׂרָאֵל יִהְיוּ נִכְחָדִים הָאֻמּוֹת הָהֵם, וְעַיֵּן מַה שֶׁפֵּרַשְׁתִּי בְּפָסוּק (במדבר יד:ט) ״סָר צִלָּם וְגוֹ׳ וַה׳ אִתָּנוּ״ וְגוֹ׳, כִּי הַקְּדֻשָּׁה תִּשְׁאַב חֵלֶק הַמְּחַיֶּה וְתִשָּׁאֵר כְּפֶגֶר מוּבָס, וְהוּא סוֹד אָמְרָם זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (שבת לד,א) יָהִיב עֵינֵיהּ בֵּיהּ וְנַעֲשָׂה גַּל שֶׁל עֲצָמוֹת, כִּי יְבָרֵר וְיִשְׁאַב חֵלֶק הַמְּחַיֶּה מִמְּקוֹם תַּחֲנוֹתוֹ.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**והביאך…והכחדתיו, "and he will bring you there…and I will cut them off."** The Torah means that the Jewish people will become the insrument by means of which these nations will be cut off. Please read what I have written on Numbers 14,9 in connection with the words: "their protective shadow has departed from them (while G'd is with us)." The reason is that sanctity will suck up the nutritients (of people who are wicked) so that those lacking sanctity will remain like defeated corpses. This is the mystical dimension of *Shabbat* 34 "he set his eye on him and the victim turned into a pile of bones." This happened as a result of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai "sucking" up the nutrients of the body of the person who had accused him of declaring cemeteries as ritually pure.


###### Or HaChaim on Exodus 23:24:1
[Or HaChaim on Exodus 23:24:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Exodus/r/23:24:1)

**לֹא תִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה וְגוֹ׳.** צָרִיךְ לָדַעַת לָמָּה הֻצְרַךְ לְצַוּוֹת לָזֶה אַחַר שֶׁהִזְהִיר כַּמָּה אַזְהָרוֹת עַל כִּעוּר זֶה וְעַל הַדּוֹמֶה לוֹ, וּמַה גַּם שֶׁבְּסָמוּךְ לְמַעְלָה הִזְהִיר אֲפִלּוּ עַל בַּל יִשָּׂא אֶת שְׁמוֹתָם עַל שְׂפָתָיו, וְלֹא לִגְרֹם שֶׁיִּזְכְּרוּ שְׁמָם הַזּוּלַת, דִּכְתִיב (שמות כג:יג) ״וְלֹא יִשָּׁמַע עַל פִּיךָ״, אִם כֵּן מַה מָקוֹם לְהַזְהִיר עוֹד עַל הָעֲבוֹדָה. וְרַמְבַּ״ן יִשֵּׁב כִּי לֶהֱיוֹתָהּ חֲמוּרָה יַרְבֶּה בָּהּ הָאַזְהָרוֹת, וּמִן הַתֵּימַה הוּא שֶׁאַחַר שֶׁהִשְׁוָה אוֹתָהּ לְכָל הַתּוֹרָה כֻּלָּהּ כָּאָמוּר לְמַעְלָה בֵּין לְעִנְיַן עֹנֶשׁ בֵּין לְעִנְיַן שָׂכָר, הִנֵּה הָעוֹבְדָהּ עוֹבֵר עַל תַּרְיַ״ג אַזְהָרוֹת, וּמַה גַּם שֶׁיֵּשׁ מִצְווֹת שֶׁיֵּשׁ בָּהֶם שְׁנֵי לָאוִין וְיוֹתֵר, וּמִצְוָה זוֹ שְׁקוּלָה כְּנֶגֶד הַכֹּל.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**לא תשתחוה לאלוהיהם, "Do not bow down to their deities, etc."** Why did the Torah have to record this prohibition once more when it has already been recorded several times? Seeing that the Torah just forbade even mentioning the name of these deities why was there any need to state once more that one must not bow down to them? Nachmanides writes that the more serious a sin the more frequently the Torah warns us not to commit it. This is not very satisfactory in light of the fact that Nachmanides has himself equated the sin of idol worship as equivalent to a violation of all the commandments of the Torah both with respect to the punishment due, and for the reward due for rejecting such idol worship. Seeing a person who bowed down to idols has already been guilty of violating 613 commandments, what point is there in adding one more commandment for such a person to violate?


###### Or HaChaim on Exodus 23:24:2
[Or HaChaim on Exodus 23:24:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Exodus/r/23:24:2)

**וְנִרְאֶה** לוֹמַר כִּי טַעַם הַכָּתוּב הוּא לְשָׁלֹשׁ סִבּוֹת: הָאֶחָד, לֶהֱיוֹת שֶׁרָצָה לְהַזְהִיר שֶׁלֹּא יִדְמֶה לְהָאֻמּוֹת בְּמַעֲשֵׂיהֶם, לָזֶה אִם לֹא הָיָה מַקְדִּים לוֹמַר ״לֹא תִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה וְלֹא תָעָבְדֵם״ לֹא יַעֲלֶה עַל דַּעַת אֱנוֹשׁ לוֹמַר שֶׁיְּכַוֵּן הַכָּתוּב לוֹמַר עַל מַעֲשֵׂה חוֹל שֶׁאֵין בּוֹ עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה שֶׁאָסוּר, וּבְהֶכְרֵחַ לוֹמַר שֶׁאֵינוֹ אוֹמֵר אֶלָּא עַל מַעֲשֵׂה אִסּוּר שֶׁהוּא עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה. אַךְ אַחַר שֶׁאָמַר **לֹא תִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה וְלֹא תָעָבְדֵם**, בָּזֶה גִּלָּה דַּעְתּוֹ כִּי מַה שֶׁאָמַר **לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה כְּמַעֲשֵׂיהֶם** הוּא אֲפִלּוּ דָּבָר שֶׁאֵינוֹ נִכָּר שֶׁיֵּשׁ בּוֹ עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה, וְהוּא שֶׁלֹּא יִדְמֶה לָהֶם לֹא בְּמַלְבּוּשֵׁיהֶם וְלֹא בְּתִגְלַחְתָּם כְּלָל, וְכָאן נִכְלָל כָּל שֶׁהוּא מְיֻחָד לְמַעֲשֵׂה הַגּוֹיִם כָּאָמוּר בְּדִבְרֵיהֶם זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (שבת סז,א). וְהַשֵּׁנִי, לְהוֹדִיעֵנוּ בָּא כִּי כָל מַעֲשֵׂיהֶם יֵשׁ בּוֹ עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה, כִּי ה׳ יוֹדֵעַ מַחְשְׁבוֹת בְּנֵי אָדָם וִיסוֹד כָּל דָּבָר, וְאִם כֵּן כָּל הָעוֹשֶׂה מַעֲשֵׂה גּוֹיִם הֲרֵי זֶה טוֹעֵם מֵעֲוֹן עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה. וְהַשְּׁלִישִׁי, לֶהֱיוֹת שֶׁרָצָה לְצַוּוֹת עַל הֲרִיסָתָם וְשִׁבְרוֹנָם, לָזֶה קָדַם לוֹמַר **לֹא תִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה** וְגוֹ׳, לוֹמַר שֶׁאִם לֹא הָרַס וְלֹא שִׁבֵּר הֲרֵי הוּא כְּעוֹבֵד עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה, כִּי ה׳ תּוֹפֵס עַל הַמַּחְשָׁבָה בַּעֲבוֹדָה זָרָה, וּצְרִיכִין הֶכֵּר לִשְׁלִילַת מַחְשֶׁבֶת עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה מִלִּבָּם, וְאֵין הֶכֵּר אֶלָּא בְּשַׁבֵּר מַצֵּבוֹתֵיהֶם, וְאִם לֹא יַעֲשׂוּ כֵן הֲרֵי הֵם כְּעוֹבְדֵי עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה וְזֶה לְךָ הָאוֹת. וְלָזֶה הֻצְרַךְ לוֹמַר **לֹא תִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה וְלֹא תָעָבְדֵם וְגוֹ׳ כִּי הָרֵס**, לוֹמַר שֶׁבְּהֶעְדֵּר הָרֵס הֲרֵי הוּא עוֹבֵר עַל לֹא תָעָבְדֵם. וְתִמְצָא שֶׁהִקְפִּיד ה׳ עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁלֹּא עָשׂוּ כֵן בִּכְנִיסָתָם לָאָרֶץ (שופטים ב,ב).

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
I believe there are three reasons why the Torah saw fit to write this verse. 1) The Torah warns us not to **appear** as comparable to the nations of the world in their deeds. Had the Torah not first mentioned that we must not bow down to and worship their deities, it would never have occurred to anyone that kneeling or prostrating oneself on the floor even for a perfectly secular activity would be forbidden. We would have been convinced that the Torah merely forbade a Jew to prostrate himself for idolatrous purposes. Now that the Torah writes: "Do not prostrate yourself and serve their deities" the Torah reveals what had been meant by the words: "do not act as they do." It refers to activities which were intended to be perfectly secular in character if such activities represented a religious rite for the pagans. We are not to wear the kind of garments idol worhipers wear (as a religious symbol) nor are we to sport the kind of haircut which they use in deference to some religious belief of theirs. The Torah here includes a variety of activities listed in *Shabbat* 67. The second reason why the words we have in verse 24 are necessary is because the Torah informs us that everything the pagans do contains an idolatrous element. G'd knows man's thoughts and the root of everything he does. If a Jew were to perform deeds which are exclusively the domain of the Gentiles he would unconsciously savour the taste of idol worship. The third reason why the Torah has to warn us here again is that G'd does not only want us not to practice any semblance of idol worship but He wants us to uproot its traces wherever and whenever we are able to do so. This is why He had to introduce the commandment to destroy all such deities by first forbidding us to prostrate ourselves in front of them. G'd implies that if a Jew does not prostrate himself in front of an idol but does not destroy it either, he is considered as if he had actually worshiped this idol. G'd is alert to our thinking, and He interprets the reasons for our not destroying such idols as a reluctance to uproot the philosophies symbolised by such deities from our hearts. You will find that the commandment to destroy such deities and their temples became operational only after the Israelites entered the Holy Land and began to conquer it. (compare Deuteronomy chapter 20).


###### Or HaChaim on Exodus 23:25:1
[Or HaChaim on Exodus 23:25:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Exodus/r/23:25:1)

**וַעֲבַדְתֶּם אֶת ה׳.** אוּלַי שֶׁהוּא נִמְשָׁךְ עִם מַה שֶׁלְּמַעְלָה (שמות כג:כד), כִּי כְּשֶׁיְּשַׁבֵּר כֹּחַ הָעֲבוֹדָה זָרָה וְיַהֲרֹס מִבְצָרֶיהָ, בָּזֶה עוֹבֵד אֶת ה׳ וְיַשְׁפִּיעַ לוֹ טוֹבָה וִיבָרֵךְ לַחְמוֹ.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**ועבדתם את ה׳ אלוקיכם, "and you will serve the Lord your G'd, etc."** Perhaps we should understand this verse as related directly to what the Torah wrote in 23,24. If Jews are careful to destroy all remnants of the idolatry practiced by the pagans in the Holy Land the result will be that they will serve the Lord with all their hearts and that G'd will bless them and protect them.


###### Or HaChaim on Exodus 23:25:2
[Or HaChaim on Exodus 23:25:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Exodus/r/23:25:2)

וְאָמְרוֹ **וְאֶת מֵימֶיךָ**, פֵּרוּשׁ, לֶהֱיוֹת שֶׁמֵּהַמַּיִם יֻלַּד הַכְּחִישׁוּת וְתוֹלְדוֹת הַחוֹלָאִים וְלֵיחוֹת הָרָעוֹת, לָזֶה הִבְטִיחַ שֶׁיְּבָרֵךְ מֵימָיו שֶׁיִּצְמְחוּ צֶמַח הָאָדָם בְּתַכְלִית הַבְּרִיאוּת, כַּיָּדוּעַ לַמַּשְׂכִּילִים בְּהַבְחָנַת הַמֵּימוֹת, כִּי אַחֲרֵי מַיִם חַיִּים יְשׁוֹטֵט הָאָדָם לִשְׁכּוֹן שָׁם. וְהַבְטָחָה גְּדוֹלָה הִבְטִיחַ הַבּוֹרֵא בָּרוּךְ הוּא בָּזֶה, וְלָזֶה סָמַךְ לְבִרְכַּת הַמַּיִם ״וְלֹא תִהְיֶה מְשַׁכֵּלָה״ וְגוֹ׳. וְצֵא וּלְמַד מַה שֶׁדָּרְשׁוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (ברכות נט:) בְּמֵי פְרָת.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
The Torah writes ואת מימיך, "and your water;" seeing that water is the source of all weakness, carrier of bacteria and origin of most serious diseases, G'd promises that He will ensure that our water will be turned into a source of healthy growth. We all know the importance of מים חיים, i.e. springwater, and man's efforts to reside near the source of such water. For all these reasons G'd's blessing is of such importance here. You may do well to study what the Talmud (*Berachot* 59) has to say about the quality of the water in the river Euphratus.


###### Or HaChaim on Exodus 23:25:3
[Or HaChaim on Exodus 23:25:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Exodus/r/23:25:3)

**וַהֲסִרֹתִי וְגוֹ׳.** רָשַׁם ה׳ הַבְחָנַת הַבְּרָכָה בִּשְׁלֹשָׁה דְבָרִים: הָא׳ – שֶׁיִּהְיֶה הָאָדָם בָּרִיא לְהִתְעַדֵּן בְּטוּב ה׳, וְהוּא אָמְרוֹ **וַהֲסִרֹתִי** וְגוֹ׳, שֶׁזּוּלַת זֶה כָּל אֹכֶל תְּתַעֵב נַפְשָׁם. ב׳ – יַרְבֶּה לוֹ בָּנִים, וְהוּא אָמְרוֹ **לֹא תִהְיֶה מְשַׁכֵּלָה** וְגוֹ׳. ג׳ – שֶׁיַּשְׁלִים יָמָיו אֹרֶךְ יָמִים וּשְׁנוֹת חַיִּים, וְהוּא אָמְרוֹ **אֶת מִסְפַּר יָמֶיךָ** וְגוֹ׳. גַּם בָּזֶה הֶרְאָה ה׳ הַפְלָגַת הַבְּרָכָה, כִּי זוּלַת שְׁלֹשָׁה דְּבָרִים אֵלּוּ אֵין הֶכֵּר לַבְּרָכָה, שֶׁאִם הָיוּ הָאוֹכְלִים מוּעָטִים וּמְשֻׁלְּלֵי הַבְּרִיאוּת וְשָׁנִים מוּעָטוֹת – כָּל שֶׁהוּא שֶׁיִּתֵּן ה׳ יַסְפִּיק לְסִפּוּק צָרְכָּם, וְנִמְצָא בֵּרַךְ לַחְמוֹ וּמֵימָיו, וְאֵין בְּהַבְטָחָה זוֹ דָּבָר גָּדוֹל אֶלָּא בְּאֶמְצָעוּת שְׁלֹשָׁה דְּבָרִים אֵלּוּ.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**והסרותי מחלה מקרבך. "And I will remove sickness from your midst."** G'd characterised the blessing as composed of three components. 1) Man (the Israelites) will be healthy in order to enjoy G'd's bounty. The Torah speaks about: "I will remove sickness," i.e. G'd will do this as an act of providence. Unless there is physical health and wellbeing all food will become repulsive instead of enjoyable. 2) There will not be a woman who miscarries, i.e. nature will co-operate; 3) people will live out their allotted years. In all these matters G'd demonstrated His blessing; without these conditions G'd's usual gifts, i.e. health, food, etc., His blessings would not be recognisable as true blessings.


###### Or HaChaim on Exodus 23:27:1
[Or HaChaim on Exodus 23:27:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Exodus/r/23:27:1)

**אֶת אֵימָתִי וְגוֹ׳.** הֲגַם שֶׁאָמַר לְמַעְלָה (שמות כג:כג) ״וְהִכְחַדְתִּיו״, כָּאן גִּלָּה כִּי בַּתְּחִלָּה לֹא לַכֹּל יַכְחִיד, אֶלָּא עַד שֶׁיִּפְרֶה יוֹסִיף ה׳ לָהוּם אֶת הָעָם הַצָּרִיךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל לְאַרְצוֹ, וְכֵן עַל זֶה הַדֶּרֶךְ יִהְיוּ כּוֹבְשִׁים וְהוֹלְכִים, וּכְמוֹ שֶׁגִּלָּה לְבַסּוֹף בְּאָמְרוֹ **לֹא אֲגָרְשֶׁנּוּ** וְגוֹ׳ עַד אֲשֶׁר תִּפְרֶה וְתִנְחַל הַכֹּל.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**את אימתי אשלח לפניך, "I will send My terror before you, etc."** Even though G'd had said in verse 23 that He would cut off the inhabitants of the land of Canaan, G'd tells the Israelites here that this would not happen immediately but that He would first terrorise the Canaanite population during the time required for the Israelites to increase in numbers sufficiently to take over the country without leaving large areas empty of human beings. G'd hinted here that the conquest of the land of Canaan would proceed gradually, something spelled out in greater detail in verse 29.


###### Or HaChaim on Exodus 23:32:1
[Or HaChaim on Exodus 23:32:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Exodus/r/23:32:1)

**לֹא תִכְרֹת וְגוֹ׳.** קָשֶׁה, אִם כְּבָר צִוָּה שֶׁיַּהַרְסוּ וִישַׁבְּרוּ אוֹתָם, מַה מָקוֹם לְצַוּוֹת עַל כְּרִיתַת בְּרִית עִמָּהֶם? וְעוֹד, אֵיךְ יֻצְדַּק לִכְרוֹת בְּרִית לֵאלֹהֵיהֶן? וְאִם עַל עֲבוֹדַת עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה הוּא אוֹמֵר, מַאי אִירְיָא בִּכְרִיתַת בְּרִית?

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**לא תכרות להם..ברית, "Do not enter into a covenant with them and their deities."** Why does the Torah have to prohibit such covenants since G'd had already commanded the Jewish people (verse 24) to destroy these people? Besides, what would be the purpose of concluding a covenant with the deities rather than the people?


###### Or HaChaim on Exodus 23:32:2
[Or HaChaim on Exodus 23:32:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Exodus/r/23:32:2)

**אָכֵן** כַּוָּנַת הַכָּתוּב הוּא לוֹמַר שֶׁאֵין אוֹסֵר כְּרִיתַת בְּרִית עִם הָאֻמּוֹת, אֶלָּא כָּל עוֹד שֶׁהֵם וֵאלֹהֵיהֶן עִמָּהֶם, אֲבָל אִם כָּפְרוּ בֵּאלֹהֵיהֶן אֵין אִסּוּר. לָזֶה אָמַר **לֹא תִכְרֹת לָהֶם וְלֵאלֹהֵיהֶם**, פֵּרוּשׁ כְּשֶׁיִּהְיוּ לָהֶם אֱלֹהֵיהֶן בְּרִית.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
Actually, we must understand the verse as teaching us that the entire prohibition of concluding treaties with the Gentile nations is applicable only as long as the Gentile nations still adhere to their deities. Once they have denied their former deities this prohibition becomes void. This is why the Torah linked the prohibition by the words להם ולאלוהיהם, "with them and their deities."


###### Or HaChaim on Exodus 23:32:3
[Or HaChaim on Exodus 23:32:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Exodus/r/23:32:3)

וְנִתְכַּוֵּן גַּם לוֹמַר כִּי הַכּוֹרֵת בְּרִית לְעוֹבֵד עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה כְּאִלּוּ כָּרַת בְּרִית לַעֲבוֹדָה זָרָה עַצְמָהּ מִשְּׁנֵי טְעָמִים: הָאֶחָד, כִּי סוֹפוֹ לִכָּשֵׁל, כַּמַּאֲמָר הַסָּמוּךְ: ״פֶּן יַחֲטִיאוּ וְגוֹ׳ כִּי תַעֲבֹד״. וְהַשֵּׁנִי, כִּי בְּחִינַת הָעֲבוֹדָה זָרָה תִּתְלַבֵּשׁ בְּעוֹבְדֶיהָ, וּבָזֶה נִמְצָא שֶׁכּוֹרֵת בְּרִית גַּם לֵאלֹהֵיהֶן רַחְמָנָא לִיצְלַן. וְאֵין לוֹמַר כִּי לָזֶה לְבַד נִתְכַּוֵּן, שֶׁאִם כֵּן הָיָה לוֹ לוֹמַר ״לֹא תִכְרוֹת לָהֶם בְּרִית וְלֵאלֹהֵיהֶן״, וְאָז הָיִינוּ אוֹמְרִים שֶׁהַכַּוָּנָה הִיא אִם כָּרַת לָהֶם בְּרִית מַעֲלֶה עָלָיו הַכָּתוּב כְּאִלּוּ וְכוּ׳. אָכֵן מֵאָמְרוֹ הַזְכָּרַת הַבְּרִית אַחַר הַזְכָּרַת אֱלֹהֵיהֶן יַגִּיד גַּם מַה שֶׁפֵּרַשְׁנוּ, שֶׁלֹּא אָסַר אֶלָּא בִּזְמַן שֶׁלֹּא קִבֵּל שֶׁלֹּא לַעֲבֹד עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה, אֲבָל אִם אֵין לוֹ אֱלוֹהַּ מֻתָּר לִכְרוֹת לוֹ בְּרִית כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּרְתוּ בְּרִית לַגִּבְעוֹנִים. וְטַעַם שֶׁהִקְפִּידוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל אַחַר כָּךְ, לְצַד שֶׁאָמְרוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (ירושלמי שביעית ו,א) שֶׁמִּתְּחִלָּה הָיוּ מֵהַמּוֹרְדִים בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל בִּשְׁלִיחוּת אִגֶּרֶת יְהוֹשֻׁעַ וְנִתְחַיְּבוּ כְּלָיָה כְּמִצְוַת הַמֶּלֶךְ ״לֹא תְחַיֶּה כָּל נְשָׁמָה״ (דברים כ:טז).

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
The wording of the prohibition also indicates that G'd views anyone who enters into a covenant with an idol worshiper as if he had made a covenant with idolatry. There are two reasons for this. 1) In the end the Jew will stumble and become guilty of idol worship as a result of obligations he took upon himself; the Torah spells this out in verse 33: "lest they will cause you to sin." 2) The second consideration is that the clothing worn by pagans reflects and symbolises their deities. When making a covenant with such people it appears as if one makes the covenant with their beliefs, G'd forbid. It is not sufficient that one had intended to conclude the deal only with the person and not with his beliefs. If the Torah had been content with that, the wording would have been: לא תכרות להם ברית ולאלוהיהם instead of the word ולאלוהיהם appearing before the word ברית, covenant. The mention of the word "covenant" at the end of the verse confirms our opinion that the prohibition is valid only when the Gentiles still recognise these deities. It is perfectly permissible to conclude a covenant with an atheist, for instance. This is why the covenant with the Gibeonites was perfectly admissible. If the Israelites subsequently felt cheated and had remorse about that covenant this is explained by the Jerusalem Talmud *Shevi-it* chapter 6. The Gibeonites originally were in a position of rebels against the Israelites and were guilty of death under the directive: "do not allow anyone to survive" (Deut. 20,16).


###### Or HaChaim on Exodus 23:33:1
[Or HaChaim on Exodus 23:33:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Exodus/r/23:33:1)

**פֶּן יַחֲטִיאוּ אוֹתְךָ לִי.** כָּאן גִּלָּה הָאָדוֹן כִּי הַחִסָּרוֹן נוֹגֵעַ לַבּוֹרֵא. וְהַשְׂכָּלַת הַדְּבָרִים הִיא כִּי יִשְׂרָאֵל לִהְיוֹתָם בְּחִינַת הַקְּדֻשָּׁה, בְּעֵת אֲשֶׁר יַעַבְדוּ עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה הִנֵּה הֵם גּוֹרְעִים מֵעֵרֶךְ קֹדֶשׁ וְנֶחְסָרִים מִשָּׁרְשָׁם, וְנִמְצָא הַחִסָּרוֹן נוֹגֵעַ לְשֹׁרֶשׁ הַקְּדֻשָּׁה.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**פן יחטיאו אתך לי, "lest they make you sin against Me."** The Torah reveals here that imperfection by the Jewish people impacts on the Creator. The logic is as follows: Seeing that the Israelites represent a certain amount of sanctity, they diminish that level of sanctity if they worship idols. Diminishing the amount of sanctity weakens the Israelites' ties with their holy roots, i.e. it impacts on the root of sanctity, i.e. G'd Himself.


###### Or HaChaim on Exodus 23:33:2
[Or HaChaim on Exodus 23:33:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Exodus/r/23:33:2)

**כִּי יִהְיֶה לְךָ לְמוֹקֵשׁ** וְגוֹ׳. פֵּרוּשׁ, נָתַן טַעַם מִנַּיִן יַעֲלֶה עַל הַדַּעַת שֶׁיֵּחָשְׁדוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל עַל זֶה לְהָמִיר כְּבוֹדָם בְּלֹא יוֹעִיל, לָזֶה הוֹדִיעַ כִּי הָעֲבוֹדָה זָרָה מַטְעָה אֶת עוֹבְדֶיהָ לִנָּקֵשׁ אַחֲרֶיהָ, כְּאָמְרָם זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (עבודה זרה נה,א) שֶׁיֵּשׁ עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה שֶׁמְּגַלָּה מַצְפּוּנוֹת וּמַטְמוֹנוֹת וּמַגֶּדֶת עֲתִידוֹת, וְלָזֶה חָשׁ ה׳ עַל בָּנָיו לְבַל יִנָּקְשׁוּ.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**כי יהיה לך למוקש, "for it will become a snare for you."** The Torah explains why there is a suspicion that the Israelites could ever agree to trade their honour for such useless forms of religion as these Canaanite deities. G'd explains that it is in the nature of idols to mislead those who worship them into being trapped by them. Our sages in *Avodah Zarah* 55 explain that there are religions (oracles) which reveal the future to their adherents and which inform them about hidden treasures. G'd was afraid that Jews too would fall victim to such enticements as obtaining knowledge of the future by means of worshiping such oracles.