אֶל־כָּל־רֹ֣אשׁ דֶּ֗רֶךְ בָּנִית֙ רָֽמָתֵ֔ךְ וַתְּתַֽעֲבִי֙ אֶת־יָפְיֵ֔ךְ וַתְּפַשְּׂקִ֥י אֶת־רַגְלַ֖יִךְ לְכָל־עוֹבֵ֑ר וַתַּרְבִּ֖י אֶת־תזנתך [תַּזְנוּתָֽיִךְ׃]
Di setiap ujung jalan engkau membangun tempat tinggimu, dan engkau membuat kecantikanmu menjadi sesuatu yang keji. Engkau membuka kakimu lebar-lebar bagi setiap orang yang lewat dan memperbanyak persundalanmu.
Eikhah Rabbah
Rabbi Yehoshua of Sikhnin began in the name of Rabbi Levi: “Woe, those who join house to house” (Isaiah 5:8). Rabbi Yoḥanan and Reish Lakish: Rabbi Yoḥanan said: “Woe, those who join house to house” – one who lends another on his house or lends another on his field in order to repossess it.61The reference is to one who loans another money in order to have a lien on the borrower’s house or field with the intention of repossessing it. The Holy One blessed be He says: What do you think, that you will inherit the land, that “you alone will be settled in the midst of the land” (Isaiah 5:8)? “In my ears, the Lord of hosts: If many houses will not be for desolation, great and excellent, without inhabitant” (Isaiah 5:9). Reish Lakish said: Like one who screams in the ear of another, not in one but in two, so, “in my ears, the Lord of hosts.”
Reish Lakish said: “Woe, those who join house to house” (Isaiah 5:8) – you have caused the first destruction to affect the second destruction. Just as in the first destruction, “Zion will be plowed like a field” (Jeremiah 26:18), so too, in the second destruction, “Zion will be plowed like a field.” “Until there is no room” (Isaiah 5:8) – what caused the place to be destroyed? It was because they did not leave any place where they did not engage in idol worship. Initially, they would worship it clandestinely. That is what is written: “He said to me: Have you seen, son of man, [what the elders of the house of Israel] are doing in the dark?” (Ezekiel 8:12). Since no one reprimanded them, they began doing so behind the door, as it is stated: “And behind the door and the doorpost you placed your commemoration” (Isaiah 57:8).62Your idol Since no one reprimanded them, they began doing so on the roofs, as it is stated: “Those who prostrate themselves on the roofs to the hosts of the heavens” (Zephaniah 1:5). Since no one reprimanded them, they began doing so in the gardens, as it is stated: “Sacrificing in the gardens” (Isaiah 65:3). Since no one reprimanded them, they began doing so on the mountaintops, as it is stated: “They slaughter sacrifices on the mountaintops, and they burn incense on the hills” (Hosea 4:13). Since no one reprimanded them, they began doing so in the fields, as it is stated: “Their altars, too, will be as heaps on the furrows of the field” (Hosea 12:12). Rabbi Yudan, Rabbi Aivu, and Rabbi Tavi said in the name of Rabbi Yoshiya: On each and every furrow they would place an idol. Rabbi Pinḥas and Rabbi Ḥilkiya said in the name of Rabbi Hoshaya: Each of them would plow his field on a diagonal and place the idol in the center so that all of the heads of the furrows would point to it.
Since no one reprimanded them, they began doing so at the crossroads, as it is stated: “At every crossroad you built your shrine” (Ezekiel 16:25). Since no one reprimanded them, they began doing so in the squares, as it is stated: “You built for you a platform, and made for you a shrine in every square” (Ezekiel 16:24). Since no one reprimanded them, they began doing so in the cities, as it is stated: “For like the number of your cities were your gods, Judah…” (Jeremiah 2:28; 11:13). Since no one reprimanded them, they began doing so in the streets, as it is stated: “And like the number of streets of Jerusalem you placed altars to the shame” (Jeremiah 11:13).
How far did they go? It was to the extent that they introduced it into the Holy of Holies, as it is stated: “This image of infuriation babia” (Ezekiel 8:5). What is babia? Rabbi Aḥa said: Woe, woe [biya biya] to the lodger because of the Homeowner. Rabbi Berekhya said: “For the mat is too short for stretching” (Isaiah 28:20) – what is “for stretching [mehistare’a]”? For holding [shetaria] a woman [isha], her husband, and her counterpart [vere’ah]. “And the cover [masekha] is too narrow [tsara] for covering [kehitkanes]” (Isaiah 28:20) – you made a cast image [masekha] as a rival [tsara] to the One of whom it is written: “He gathers together [kones] the water of the sea like a mound” (Psalms 33:7). When they sinned they were exiled. When they were exiled, Jeremiah began lamenting over them, eikha.
Reish Lakish said: “Woe, those who join house to house” (Isaiah 5:8) – you have caused the first destruction to affect the second destruction. Just as in the first destruction, “Zion will be plowed like a field” (Jeremiah 26:18), so too, in the second destruction, “Zion will be plowed like a field.” “Until there is no room” (Isaiah 5:8) – what caused the place to be destroyed? It was because they did not leave any place where they did not engage in idol worship. Initially, they would worship it clandestinely. That is what is written: “He said to me: Have you seen, son of man, [what the elders of the house of Israel] are doing in the dark?” (Ezekiel 8:12). Since no one reprimanded them, they began doing so behind the door, as it is stated: “And behind the door and the doorpost you placed your commemoration” (Isaiah 57:8).62Your idol Since no one reprimanded them, they began doing so on the roofs, as it is stated: “Those who prostrate themselves on the roofs to the hosts of the heavens” (Zephaniah 1:5). Since no one reprimanded them, they began doing so in the gardens, as it is stated: “Sacrificing in the gardens” (Isaiah 65:3). Since no one reprimanded them, they began doing so on the mountaintops, as it is stated: “They slaughter sacrifices on the mountaintops, and they burn incense on the hills” (Hosea 4:13). Since no one reprimanded them, they began doing so in the fields, as it is stated: “Their altars, too, will be as heaps on the furrows of the field” (Hosea 12:12). Rabbi Yudan, Rabbi Aivu, and Rabbi Tavi said in the name of Rabbi Yoshiya: On each and every furrow they would place an idol. Rabbi Pinḥas and Rabbi Ḥilkiya said in the name of Rabbi Hoshaya: Each of them would plow his field on a diagonal and place the idol in the center so that all of the heads of the furrows would point to it.
Since no one reprimanded them, they began doing so at the crossroads, as it is stated: “At every crossroad you built your shrine” (Ezekiel 16:25). Since no one reprimanded them, they began doing so in the squares, as it is stated: “You built for you a platform, and made for you a shrine in every square” (Ezekiel 16:24). Since no one reprimanded them, they began doing so in the cities, as it is stated: “For like the number of your cities were your gods, Judah…” (Jeremiah 2:28; 11:13). Since no one reprimanded them, they began doing so in the streets, as it is stated: “And like the number of streets of Jerusalem you placed altars to the shame” (Jeremiah 11:13).
How far did they go? It was to the extent that they introduced it into the Holy of Holies, as it is stated: “This image of infuriation babia” (Ezekiel 8:5). What is babia? Rabbi Aḥa said: Woe, woe [biya biya] to the lodger because of the Homeowner. Rabbi Berekhya said: “For the mat is too short for stretching” (Isaiah 28:20) – what is “for stretching [mehistare’a]”? For holding [shetaria] a woman [isha], her husband, and her counterpart [vere’ah]. “And the cover [masekha] is too narrow [tsara] for covering [kehitkanes]” (Isaiah 28:20) – you made a cast image [masekha] as a rival [tsara] to the One of whom it is written: “He gathers together [kones] the water of the sea like a mound” (Psalms 33:7). When they sinned they were exiled. When they were exiled, Jeremiah began lamenting over them, eikha.
Vayikra Rabbah
Another matter, “if you sell a sale item” – Rabbi Ḥiyya son of Rabbi Ada of Yafo said: “If you sell” – you are destined to be sold to the nations of the world,16He reads the expression “If you sell [timkeru]” as though it were vocalized differently, giving a meaning of “when you are sold [timakhru].” but you should be partners with your Creator, just as Ḥananya, Mishael, and Azarya were, who said to Nebuchadnezzar: “We have no need to reply to you in this matter…Behold our God, whom we worship…He is able to save us…Behold, if not, let it be known to you, king, [that we will not worship your gods, and we will not prostrate ourselves to the golden image that you have erected]” (Daniel 3:16–18). “Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying to them: Hatzeda, Shadrakh, Meshakh, and Aved Nego, [you do not worship my gods, and you do not prostrate yourselves to the golden image that I have erected?]” (Daniel 3:14). What is hatzeda? Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said: Truth.17As in Numbers 35:22, tzediya, which means intent or truth. Rabbi Yosei ben Rabbi Ḥanina said: Emptiness [tzadu]. What, have you come to render my idol worship emptiness? The translation of “emptiness and disorder” (Genesis 1:2) is tzadeya.
Rabbi Yoḥanan said two [statements], Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon said two, Shmuel bar Naḥman said two, and the Rabbis said one. Rabbi Yoḥanan said two [statements]: He said to them:18Nebuchadnezzar said to Ḥananya, Mishael, and Azarya. ‘Does not the source of idol worship come from you? Is it not written: “And their idols from Jerusalem and Samaria” (Isaiah 10:10), and you have come here to render my idol worship emptiness?’ Rabbi Yoḥanan said another: He said to them: ‘When you were in your land you would send to us and acquire nails, hair, and bones of idol worship in order to carve them, to realize what is written: “Idols of the Chaldeans engraved with vermilion” (Ezekiel 23:14), and you come here to render my idol worship emptiness?’
Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon said two [statements]: [Nebuchadnezzar] said to them: ‘When you were in your land, you would divide into sects for idol worship, just as it says: “You made your beauty an abomination and spread your legs for every passerby” (Ezekiel 16:25), and you come here to render my idol worship emptiness?’ Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon said another. He said to them: ‘When you were in your land, you would gather in multitudes for idol worship.’ That is what is written: “The sound of a peaceful multitude was within it” (Ezekiel 23:42). “Muva’im” (Ezekiel 23:42) – from Canossa, “Sava’im” (Ezekiel 23:42) – exceedingly inebriated. “They put bracelets on their hands” (Ezekiel 23:42), Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon said: Prostitutes, just as it says: “I said of one who is labala by adulteries” (Ezekiel 23:43). What is labala? Aquila translated: A worn-out prostitute. Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon said: Labala is nothing other than an expression of idol worship, just as it says: “I will reckon with Bel19This is the name of an idol. in Babylon” (Jeremiah 51:44). ‘And you come here to render my idol worship emptiness?’
Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥmani said two [statements]: [Nebuchadnezzar] said to them: ‘Your idol worship was of silver and gold, just as it says: “Their silver and their gold they made into idols for themselves” (Hosea 8:4), but my idol worship is pure gold in its entirety.’ That is what is written: “King Nebuchadnezzar made an image [of gold]” (Daniel 3:1). ‘And you come here to render my idol worship emptiness?’ Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥmani said another. [Nebuchadnezzar] said to them: ‘Did Moses not write for you in the Torah: “You will serve gods [elohim] there, the handiwork of man”?’ (Deuteronomy 4:28). They said: ‘My lord the king, it is not to prostrate ourselves, but rather, to pay tribute with land taxes, produce taxes, animal taxes, and head taxes,’ as Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman said: There they call kings elohim.20Nebuchadnezzar argued that they should serve his gods, in accordance with the verse in Deuteronomy. They responded that the verse means they will serve the kings of the lands where they are exiled, as the term elohim can refer to kings. “There” may refer to the land of Israel, or to Rome, which ruled the land of Israel at the time of Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman, or to Babylon.
The Rabbis said one. [Nebuchadnezzar] said to them: ‘Did Jeremiah not write for you: “It will be the nation and the kingdom that will not serve Nebuchadnezzar [king of Babylon…with the sword and with famine and with pestilence I will reckon with that nation]”?’ (Jeremiah 27:8). He said to them: ‘Either you fulfill the beginning of this verse, or I will fulfill its end.’ Immediately, “Shadrakh, Meshakh, and Aved Nego spoke, saying to King Nebuchadnezzar, [we have no need to reply to you in this matter]” (Daniel 3:16). If “king,” why “Nebuchadnezzar,” if “Nebuchadnezzar,” why “king”? Rather, regarding tribute with land taxes, produce taxes, animal taxes, and head taxes, you are king over us, but for this matter that you are saying to us, you are Nebuchadnezzar, and Nebuchadnezzar is your name. You and a dog are equivalent for us. Nebuchadnezzar barks [navaḥ] like a dog, inflates like a leather jug [kad], and chirps [natzar] like a cricket.
Immediately, he barked like a dog, inflated like a leather jug, and chirped like a cricket, as it is stated: “I keep the king's command [and the word of an oath to God]” (Ecclesiastes 8:2). Rabbi Levi said: I will keep the command of the King of kings, the Holy One blessed be He, the mouth that said to us at Sinai: “I am the Lord your God” (Exodus 20:2).21The implication is thus: I will keep the king’s command, but only if it does not contradict “the word of an oath to God,” i.e. any of God’s commandments. “And the word of an oath to God,” a reference to: “God spoke all these matters” (Exodus 20:1). “An oath to God,” a reference to: “You shall not take [the name of the Lord…in vain]” (Exodus 20:7), because in this world Israel is enslaved to the nations of the world, and in the future, what is written? “Kings will be your caregivers, and their princesses, your wet nurses” (Isaiah 49:23). For in this world the nations of the world torment Israel, but in the future, the Holy One blessed be He says: “I am destined to feed them from their own flesh and make them inebriated from their own blood, as from sweet wine” (Isaiah 49:26).22God will impose such a harsh famine on the wicked members of the nations of the world that they will eat their own flesh.
Rabbi Yoḥanan said two [statements], Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon said two, Shmuel bar Naḥman said two, and the Rabbis said one. Rabbi Yoḥanan said two [statements]: He said to them:18Nebuchadnezzar said to Ḥananya, Mishael, and Azarya. ‘Does not the source of idol worship come from you? Is it not written: “And their idols from Jerusalem and Samaria” (Isaiah 10:10), and you have come here to render my idol worship emptiness?’ Rabbi Yoḥanan said another: He said to them: ‘When you were in your land you would send to us and acquire nails, hair, and bones of idol worship in order to carve them, to realize what is written: “Idols of the Chaldeans engraved with vermilion” (Ezekiel 23:14), and you come here to render my idol worship emptiness?’
Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon said two [statements]: [Nebuchadnezzar] said to them: ‘When you were in your land, you would divide into sects for idol worship, just as it says: “You made your beauty an abomination and spread your legs for every passerby” (Ezekiel 16:25), and you come here to render my idol worship emptiness?’ Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon said another. He said to them: ‘When you were in your land, you would gather in multitudes for idol worship.’ That is what is written: “The sound of a peaceful multitude was within it” (Ezekiel 23:42). “Muva’im” (Ezekiel 23:42) – from Canossa, “Sava’im” (Ezekiel 23:42) – exceedingly inebriated. “They put bracelets on their hands” (Ezekiel 23:42), Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon said: Prostitutes, just as it says: “I said of one who is labala by adulteries” (Ezekiel 23:43). What is labala? Aquila translated: A worn-out prostitute. Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon said: Labala is nothing other than an expression of idol worship, just as it says: “I will reckon with Bel19This is the name of an idol. in Babylon” (Jeremiah 51:44). ‘And you come here to render my idol worship emptiness?’
Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥmani said two [statements]: [Nebuchadnezzar] said to them: ‘Your idol worship was of silver and gold, just as it says: “Their silver and their gold they made into idols for themselves” (Hosea 8:4), but my idol worship is pure gold in its entirety.’ That is what is written: “King Nebuchadnezzar made an image [of gold]” (Daniel 3:1). ‘And you come here to render my idol worship emptiness?’ Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥmani said another. [Nebuchadnezzar] said to them: ‘Did Moses not write for you in the Torah: “You will serve gods [elohim] there, the handiwork of man”?’ (Deuteronomy 4:28). They said: ‘My lord the king, it is not to prostrate ourselves, but rather, to pay tribute with land taxes, produce taxes, animal taxes, and head taxes,’ as Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman said: There they call kings elohim.20Nebuchadnezzar argued that they should serve his gods, in accordance with the verse in Deuteronomy. They responded that the verse means they will serve the kings of the lands where they are exiled, as the term elohim can refer to kings. “There” may refer to the land of Israel, or to Rome, which ruled the land of Israel at the time of Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman, or to Babylon.
The Rabbis said one. [Nebuchadnezzar] said to them: ‘Did Jeremiah not write for you: “It will be the nation and the kingdom that will not serve Nebuchadnezzar [king of Babylon…with the sword and with famine and with pestilence I will reckon with that nation]”?’ (Jeremiah 27:8). He said to them: ‘Either you fulfill the beginning of this verse, or I will fulfill its end.’ Immediately, “Shadrakh, Meshakh, and Aved Nego spoke, saying to King Nebuchadnezzar, [we have no need to reply to you in this matter]” (Daniel 3:16). If “king,” why “Nebuchadnezzar,” if “Nebuchadnezzar,” why “king”? Rather, regarding tribute with land taxes, produce taxes, animal taxes, and head taxes, you are king over us, but for this matter that you are saying to us, you are Nebuchadnezzar, and Nebuchadnezzar is your name. You and a dog are equivalent for us. Nebuchadnezzar barks [navaḥ] like a dog, inflates like a leather jug [kad], and chirps [natzar] like a cricket.
Immediately, he barked like a dog, inflated like a leather jug, and chirped like a cricket, as it is stated: “I keep the king's command [and the word of an oath to God]” (Ecclesiastes 8:2). Rabbi Levi said: I will keep the command of the King of kings, the Holy One blessed be He, the mouth that said to us at Sinai: “I am the Lord your God” (Exodus 20:2).21The implication is thus: I will keep the king’s command, but only if it does not contradict “the word of an oath to God,” i.e. any of God’s commandments. “And the word of an oath to God,” a reference to: “God spoke all these matters” (Exodus 20:1). “An oath to God,” a reference to: “You shall not take [the name of the Lord…in vain]” (Exodus 20:7), because in this world Israel is enslaved to the nations of the world, and in the future, what is written? “Kings will be your caregivers, and their princesses, your wet nurses” (Isaiah 49:23). For in this world the nations of the world torment Israel, but in the future, the Holy One blessed be He says: “I am destined to feed them from their own flesh and make them inebriated from their own blood, as from sweet wine” (Isaiah 49:26).22God will impose such a harsh famine on the wicked members of the nations of the world that they will eat their own flesh.
Sifrei Devarim
R. Meir was wont to say: When Israel were meritorious, they bore witness over themselves, viz. (Joshua 24:22) "And Joshua said to the people: Bear witness over yourselves that you have chosen the L-rd to serve Him. And they said: We are witnesses." When they went astray, viz. (Hoshea 12:1) "Ephraim has surrounded Me with falsehood, and the house of Israel with deceit," the tribe of Judah and Benjamin testified against them, viz. (Isaiah 5:3-4) "And now, dweller of Jerusalem and man of Judah. What more could have been done for my vineyard that I did not do for it?" When the tribe of Judah went astray, viz. (Malachi 2:11) "Judah has been faithless, etc.", He had the prophets bear witness against them, viz. (II Kings 17:13) "The L-rd has borne witness against Israel and Judah by the prophets of every vision, etc." When they went astray with the prophets, viz. (II Chronicles 36:16) "And they mocked the messengers of G-d and despised His prophets," He had the heavens bear witness against them, viz. (Devarim 4:26, 30:19) "I call to bear witness against you this day, the heavens." When they went astray with the heavens, viz. (Jeremiah 7:17) "Do you not see what they are doing in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? (18) The children are gathering wood, and the gatherers are kindling the fire, and the women are kneading dough to make cakes for the queen of heaven!" — He had the earth bear witness against them, viz. (Ibid. 6:19) "Hear, O earth, I will bring evil upon this people." When they went astray with the earth, viz. (Hoshea 12:12) "Their altars, too, are like heaps upon the furrows of he field," He had the ways bear witness against them, viz. (Jeremiah 6:16) "Place yourself on the ways and see, etc." When they went astray with the ways, viz. (Ezekiel 16:25) "At every crossroad you built your lofty place," He had the mountains bear witness against them, viz. (Michah 6:2) "Hear, O mountains, the quarrel of the L-rd." When they went astray with the mountains, viz. (Hoshea 4:13) "They slaughter offerings upon the mountaintops," He had the nations bear witness against them, viz. (Jeremiah 6:18) "Therefore, hear, O nations, etc." When they went astray with the nations, viz. (Psalms 106:35) "and they mingled with the nations and learned their deeds," He had a beast bear witness against them, viz. (Isaiah 1:3) "The ox knows its owner, and the ass, its master's trough, but Israel does not know, etc." When they went astray with the beast, viz. (Psalms 106:20) "They exchanged their glory for the likeness of an ass, eating grass," He had the animal bear witness against them, viz. (Jeremiah 8:7) "Even the stork in the heavens knows its seasons … but My people do not know the law of the L-rd." When they went astray with the animal, viz. (Ezekiel 8:10) "And I came and I saw, and behold, every sort of image — disgusting creeping things and animals, etc.", He had the fish bear testimony against them, viz. (Iyyov 12:8) "Or speak to the earth and it will teach you; the fish of the sea will report to you, etc." When they went astray with the fish, viz. (Tzephaniah 1:3) "… and the fish of the sea and the stumbling blocks of the wicked," He had the ant bear witness against them, viz. (Proverbs 6:6-8) "Go to the ant, you sluggard, see its ways and grow wise. Though it has no officer … she prepares her food in the summer, etc." R. Shimon b. Elazar says: "Wretched is man, who must learn from the ant!" If he learned and acted (accordingly) would he be "wretched"? Rather, he should learn from its ways, but does not.