Pensamento Judaico sobre Deuteronômio 4:16

The term temunah, on the other hand, is used in the Bible in three different senses. It signifies, first, the outlines of things which are perceived by our bodily senses, i.e., their shape and form; as, e.g., “And ye make an image the form (temunat) of some likeness” (Deut. 4:16); “for ye saw no likeness” (temunah) (Deut. 4:15). Secondly, the forms of our imagination, i.e., the impressions retained in imagination when the objects have ceased to affect our senses. In this sense it is used in the passage which begins “In thoughts from the visions of the night” (Job 4:13), and which concludes “it remained but I could not recognize its sight, only an image—temunah—was before my eyes,” i.e., an image which presented itself to my sight during sleep. Thirdly, the true form of an object, which is perceived only by the intellect: and it is in this third signification that the term is applied to God. The words “And the similitude of the Lord shall he behold” (Num. 12:8) therefore mean “he shall comprehend the true essence of the Lord.”

And through this, the stated verse is understood: For I must die in this land; I shall not cross the Jordan, etc. Take care, then, not to forget the covenant that the Lord your God concluded with you, and not to make for yourselves a sculptured image, etc. (Deuteronomy 4:22-24). As there is a precise inference to be made about his saying, I must die. As how is that giving a reason for his wanting to warn them not to worship idolatry? For is it not that even if he had lived a thousand years, it would [still] have been justified to warn them about God's commandments? And the commentators already sensed this and answered [it], see there. However, according to our approach, the words are like their simple understanding, as Moses was hinting to them that this which I warn you to not make for yourself a depiction of any symbol (Deuteronomy 4:16) is because I must die in this land; I shall not cross the Jordan, so that I cannot negate the impulse of idolatry, since I do not have the merit of the land of Israel. For if I were to cross the Jordan, I would not need to say to you not to worship idolatry. As I would negate the impulse of idolatry in the way they did during the days of Ezra.