Kapłańska 19:4 Komentarz: Rashi, Kli Yakar, Ramban & Sforno

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.

Do not turn to idols. After warning about the fear of the three who bring one into being [God, father, mother], the Torah comes to exclude idols, as it is written, They say to wood, “You are my father,” and to stone, “You gave birth to me” (Jeremiah 2:27). This tells you that there are no partners in your creation except these three and no more. And adjacent to this is And when you offer a peace offering, because it said do not turn, and unspecified turning refers to the heart, as it is written, And if your heart turns away (Deuteronomy 30:17), Whose heart turns away (Deuteronomy 29:17). For with idolatry the Holy One, blessed be He, combines thought with action, as it is said, In order to seize the house of Israel by their heart (Ezekiel 14:5). And the reason for this is that the essence of idolatry depends on the heart of the believer, and we do not find throughout the Torah that thought invalidates like action except in idolatry and with sacrifices. For if one thought during slaughter to eat it outside its designated time or place, it is an abomination, it shall not be accepted. Therefore, the commandment Do not turn to idols, which speaks of turning in the heart, is adjacent to the commandment And when you offer a peace offering to the Lord, offer it so that it may be acceptable for you. Rashi explains that you should not have invalid thoughts about it. For in the entire Torah, matters of the heart are not considered significant except for these two.

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.