Musar do Powtórzonego Prawa 12:2

However, I came to explain further the anger and wrath over the severity of the great sin of wasting seed. It is stated in Tractate Niddah, beginning of Chapter 20 (13a): "It was taught in a baraita: Rabbi Eliezer says: Anyone who holds his male organ and urinates is considered as though he brought a flood upon the world." They said to Rabbi Eliezer: But doesn't seminal drops drip onto his feet, appearing like one who cuts off his own flesh? And it turns out that he speaks disparagingly about his children, who are mamzerim (illegitimate offspring). He said to them: It is better that he should speak disparagingly about his children, who are mamzerim, and not make himself wicked for even one moment before the Omnipresent. And we say: For what reason does the verse state this? Because he emits semen wastefully, as Rabbi Yoḥanan says: Anyone who emits semen wastefully is liable to receive the death penalty, as it is stated: “And it was evil in the eyes of the Lord that which he did; and he also died” (Genesis 38:10). Rabbi Yitzḥak and Rabbi Ami say: It is as though he sheds blood, as it is stated: “Who comfort you with idols under every leafy tree, slaying the children in the valleys” (Isaiah 57:5). Do not read it as slaying [shoḥtei], but rather as squeezing [soḥtei]. Rav Ashi says: It is as though he worshiped idols, as here it is written: “Under every leafy tree,” and there it is written: “Upon the high mountains, and upon the hills, and under every leafy tree” (Deuteronomy 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."