Commentaire sur Le Lévitique 19:4

אל תפנו אל האלילים TURN YE NOT UNTO THE IDOLS — to worship them (Sifra, Kedoshim, Section 1 10). The word אלילים, idols, is connected with “not“ (אל) — it is regarded of “none" import.

He states, ‘Al tiphnu’ (Turn ye not) unto the idols,³⁰Verse 4. the term tiphnu (turn ye) being of the expressions: and if thy heart ‘yiphneh’ (turn away);³¹Deuteronomy 30:17. whose heart ‘poneh’ (turneth away) this day.³²Ibid., 29:17. The verse [here] is thus stating that one’s heart should not turn away to the idols, to believe that there is some benefit in [worshipping] them, or that the events that they foretell will really transpire; rather, they and all their activities should appear to him as things of nought, and vanity,³³Isaiah 40:17. and future events occur only by decree of the Most High. And so also have our Rabbis said:³⁴Shabbath 149 a. “It is forbidden to look at the statues [of the idols] themselves, because it says, ‘Turn ye not’ unto the idols.” Thus the Rabbis included within this prohibition even looking at the statues, so that one should not allow one’s thoughts to dwell on their matters at all.
He states, nor make to yourselves molten gods,³⁰Verse 4. thus prohibiting them from the very moment that they are made. Admonitions against idolatry are stated in the Torah in many places.
In the Midrash of Vayikra Rabbah the Rabbis mentioned concerning this section [of the Torah the following text]:³⁵Vayikra Rabbah 24:5. “Rabbi Levi says: Because the Ten Commandments are included in this section [therefore it was proclaimed to the full assembly]. I am the Eternal thy G-d,²⁶Exodus 20:2. and here it is written, I am the Eternal your G-d. Thou shalt have no other gods,³⁶Exodus 20:3. and here it is written, nor make to yourselves molten gods.³⁰Verse 4. Thou shalt not take the Name of the Eternal thy G-d in vain,³⁷Ibid., Verse 7. and here it is written, And ye shall not swear by My Name falsely.³⁸Further, Verse 12. Remember the Sabbath day,²⁹Ibid., Verse 8 (Vol. II, pp. 306-311). and here it is written, and ye shall keep My Sabbaths.²⁷Verse 3. Honor thy father and thy mother,²⁸Exodus 20:12. and here it is written, Ye shall fear every man his mother and his father.²⁷Verse 3. Thou shalt not murder,³⁹Exodus 20:13. and here it is written, Neither shalt thou stand idly by the blood of thy neighbor.⁴⁰Further, Verse 16. Thou shalt not commit adultery,³⁹Exodus 20:13. and here it is written, Profane not thy daughter, to make her a harlot.⁴¹Ibid., Verse 29. Thou shalt not steal,³⁹Exodus 20:13. and here it is written, Ye shall not steal.⁴²Ibid., Verse 11. Thou shalt not bear false witness,³⁹Exodus 20:13. and here it is written, Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people.⁴⁰Further, Verse 16. Thou shalt not covet,⁴³Exodus 20:14. and here it is written, and thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”⁴⁴Further, Verse 18. For if you love him as yourself you will not covet that which is his, since that which is hateful to yourself, you should not do to others (Etz Yoseiph in the name of Rabbi David Luria). Thus far is the text of the Midrash.

When the Torah now continues with the second of the Ten Commandments by warning us אל תפנו אל אלילים, the Torah elaborates that it is not only forbidden to make oneself such deities in order to worship them, etc., but that it is equally prohibited to display respect for such deities worshipped by other peoples as their gods. Nothing is to be done which would indicate that one invokes the supposed “power” of such deities to further one’s personal interest and concerns.