Halakhah sa Deuteronomio 7:26: Mishneh Torah, Foreign Worship and Customs, Mishneh Torah, Negative Mitzvot & Sefer HaChinukh

Idolatry, its articles of service, that which is offered to it, and all that is made for its sake, nought thereof should be enjoyed, even as it is said: "And thou shalt not bring an abomination into thy house" (Ibid. 7.26); and whosoever enjoys aught of one of these is striped twice; once, because it is said: "Thou shalt not bring" (Ibid.) and once more because it is said: "And there shall cleave nought of the devoted thing to thy hand" (Ibid. 13.18).²Ibid. C.

Idolatry, everything used in its service, and everything that is made for its sake, even a particle thereof renders everything it is mingled with and its identity lost therein forbidden property. For example? An idol which was mixed up with figures of beauty, even one in many thousands, all of it must be cast in the Dead Sea. Likewise if a cup of idolatry was mixed up with many other cups, or a piece of idolatrous meat in many pieces of other meat must be cast in the Dead Sea. Likewise if a heart-cut hide was mixed up with many other hides, all become forbidden property. If one did transgress and sold idolatry, or an article used in its service, or that which is made for its sake, even the proceeds thereof is forbidden property and a particle thereof renders all other things wherewith it is mixed up forbidden property, for it is as idolatry itself, even as it is said: "Nor take it unto thee, lest thou be desolate as itself" (Deut. 7.25)⁹The English translation of the Hebrew word “Harem”, both in the King James version and the 1917 edition of the Jewish Publication Society is wrong; Harem means a snare, as well as desolate, devout, isolated etc., but it never can mean “be esnared” or “be snared”. Neither does the Hebrew word “Komohu” mean either “therein” or “thereby”. G.; herefrom you deduct that everything you take in from idolatry from the things which are for its service, and from that which it is made for its use is like unto itself.¹⁰Abodah Zarah, 74b; Kiddushin, 58a. C.

Even in the places where the leasing of houses to them is permitted, it is not for dwelling purposes that the permission was granted, as it would bring the abomination of idolatry into it, against which it is said: "Thou shalt bring no abomination into thy house" (Deut. 7.26); but one may lease houses to them for storage. It is forbidden to sell them fruit on the trees, or grain on the stalk; but he may sell it after it be harvested, or sell to one on condition that he harvest it, and when he does harvest it the purchase is binding. But wherefore is it forbidden to sell it to them? Because it is said: "Nor show mercy unto them" (Ibid. 7.2)—given them no permanency on land, for by having no land their settlement will be but a temporary one.⁵The Talmud here interprets the word of the root Hano, resting. G. It is also forbidden to speak in praise of idolatry, even to say: "How beautiful is this idol's facial features". From this minor premise the major premise can be deducted that it is forbidden to speak in praise of the performance of idolatry, or to love any of its parts even as it is said: "Nor show mercy unto them" (Ibid.), they should have no grace in thine eyes,⁶Here the word is interpreted to mean grace, from the noun Hein. G. for it will be a cause to cleave to it and learn its evil deeds. It is, moreover, forbidden to give them a present outright, but it is permitted to give a present outright to an alien sojourner, even as it is said: "Unto the stranger that is in thy gates canst thou give it, that he may eat it; or thou mayest sell it unto an alien" (Deut.121.) — to an alien by selling it to him, and not by presenting it to him.⁷Ibid. 19a–20b. C.