Musar sobre Deuteronómio 12:2

אלהיהם על ההרים . The expression אלוהיהם על ההרים in 12,2 presents a difficulty. Why did the Torah see fit to add the words על ההרים, "on the mountains?" You will understand when you read this verse in conjunction with with the verse about Mount Gerizim. It reminds us of a statement by our sages in Chulin 6a that the Samaritans, כותים, (a people introduced into Samaria by the Assyrians after the ten tribes had been exiled), eventually became total Gentiles and fashioned themselves the image of a pigeon to which they prayed. When this happened it became clear that all the Torah commandments which these people had previously undertaken to perform had been motivated only by their desire to insure themselves against attacks by ferocious beasts which roamed the area. When מצוה performance is based on such considerations it will not lead to the desired objective of sanctification of body and spirit. The kind of "fear" G–d asks of us is something internal, not external i.e. connected to external considerations.

Commandment 436 enjoins that we must destroy idols and the utensils used in worshipping them. The Torah (12,2) writes: "You must destroy all the sites, etc."