זֹבֵ֥חַ לָאֱלֹהִ֖ים יָֽחֳרָ֑ם בִּלְתִּ֥י לַיהוָ֖ה לְבַדּֽוֹ׃
Ang sinumang maghahain ng handog sa mga diyos, maliban sa Walang-Hanggan lamang, ay papatayin.
Eikhah Rabbah
There was an incident involving Miriam daughter of the baker, who was taken captive with her seven sons. The emperor took them and placed them behind seven partitions. He brought the first and said to him: ‘Prostrate yourself to the idol.’ He said to him: ‘God forbid, I will not prostrate myself to the idol.’ He said to him: ‘Why?’ [He responded:] ‘Because so it is written in our Torah: “I am the Lord your God”’ (Exodus 20:2). Immediately, he took him out and executed him.
He took out the second and said to him: ‘Prostrate yourself to the idol.’ He said to him: ‘God forbid, my brother did not prostrate himself and I will not prostrate myself.’ He said to him: ‘Why?’ He said to him: ‘Because so it is written in our Torah: “You shall have no other gods before Me”’ (Exodus 20:3). Immediately, he issued a decree against him and they executed him. He took out the third and said to him: ‘Prostrate yourself to the idol.’ He said to him: ‘I will not prostrate myself.’ He said to him: ‘Why?’ He said to him: ‘Because so it is written in our Torah: “For you shall not prostrate yourself to another god”’ (Exodus 34:14). Immediately, he issued a decree against him and they executed him. He took out the fourth and [the son] recited his verse: “One who sacrifices to gods shall be destroyed” (Exodus 22:19). He issued a decree against him and they executed him. He took out the fifth and he, too, recited his verse: “Hear Israel, the Lord is our God the Lord is one” (Deuteronomy 6:4). Immediately, he issued a decree against him and they executed him. He took out the sixth and he, too, recited his verse: “For the Lord your God is in your midst, a God great and awesome” (Deuteronomy 7:21). Immediately, he issued a decree against him and they executed him.
He took out the seventh, who was the youngest of them all. He said: ‘My son, prostrate yourself to the idol.’ He said to him: ‘God forbid.’ He said to him: ‘Why?’ He said to him: ‘Because so it is written in our Torah: “You shall know this day, and restore to your heart, that the Lord, He is the God in the heavens above and upon the earth below, there is no other” (Deuteronomy 4:39). Moreover, we took an oath to our God that we will not exchange Him for another God, as it is stated: “You have exalted the Lord today [to be your God]” (Deuteronomy 26:17). And just as we took an oath to Him, so He took an oath that He would not exchange us for a different nation, as it is stated: “The Lord has exalted you today [to be a people of distinction for Him]”’ (Deuteronomy 26:18).
The emperor said to him: ‘Your brothers had full days, full lives, and experienced goodness, but you are young, you have not had full days, you have not had a full life, and you have never experienced goodness. Prostrate yourself to the idol and I will do good things for you.’ He said to him: ‘It is written in our Torah: “The Lord will reign forever” (Exodus 15:18). And it says: “The Lord is king forever, nations have been eliminated from His land” (Psalms 10:16). You will cease and His enemies will cease. Flesh and blood lives today and dies tomorrow, is wealthy today and poor tomorrow; but the Holy One blessed be He lives and persists forever and for all time.’ The emperor said to him: ‘See your brothers slain before you. I am casting my ring to the ground before the idol, lift it so everyone will know that you heeded my voice.’ He said to him: ‘It is a shame for you, emperor; if you fear people, who are your equivalent, will I not fear the King of kings, the Holy One blessed be He, the eternal God?’ He said to him: ‘Is there a God in the world?’ He said to him: ‘Woe are you, emperor, have you seen a world without a master?’
He said to him: ‘Does your God have a mouth?’ He said to him: ‘Regarding your gods it is written: “They have a mouth but cannot speak” (Psalms 115:5). Regarding our God it is written: “By the word of the Lord the heavens were made; [by the breath of His mouth, all their hosts]”’ (Psalms 33:6).
He said to him: ‘Does your God have eyes?’ He said to him: ‘Regarding your gods it is written: “They have eyes but cannot see” (Psalms 115:5). Regarding our God it is written: “They are the eyes of the Lord ranging throughout the land”’ (Zechariah 4:10).
He said to him: ‘Does your God have ears?’ He said to him: ‘Regarding your gods it is written: “They have ears but cannot hear” (Psalms 115:6). Regarding our God it is written: “The Lord listened and heard”’ (Malachi 3:16).
He said to him: ‘Does your God have a nose?’ He said to him: ‘Regarding your gods it is written: “They have a nose but cannot smell” (Psalms 115:6). Regarding our God it is written: “The Lord smelled the pleasing aroma”’ (Genesis 8:21).
He said to him: ‘Does your God have hands?’ He said to him: ‘Regarding your gods it is written: “They have hands but cannot feel” (Psalms 115:7). Regarding our God it is written: “My hand, too, laid the foundation”’ (Isaiah 48:13).
He said to him: ‘Does your God have feet?’ He said to him: ‘Regarding your gods it is written: “They have feet but cannot walk” (Psalms 115:7). Regarding our God it is written: “His feet will stand that day on the Mount of Olives”’ (Zechariah 14:4).
He said to him: ‘Does your God have a throat?’ He said to him: ‘Regarding your gods it is written: “They cannot produce sound with their throats” (Psalms 115:7). Regarding our God it is written: “Sound emerges from His mouth”’ (Job 37:2).
He said to him: ‘If there are all these attributes in your God, why does He not rescue you from my hand, like He rescued Ḥananya, Mishael, and Azarya from the hand of Nebuchadnezzar?’ He said to him: ‘Ḥananya, Mishael, and Azarya were upright, and Nebuchadnezzar was a king worthy of having a miracle performed through him. But you are not worthy, and we have been condemned to death at the hand of Heaven. If you do not execute us, there are many executioners for the Omnipresent, many wolves, lions, snakes, leopards, and scorpions to attack us and kill us. But ultimately, the Holy One blessed be He is destined to exact retribution from you for our blood.’ Immediately, he issued a decree against him to execute him.
His mother said to him: ‘By the life of your head, emperor, give me my son and I will hug him and kiss him.’ He gave him to her, and she bared her breasts and nursed him with her milk. She said to him: ‘By the life of your head, emperor, execute me first and then execute him.’ The emperor said to her: ‘I will not heed you because it is written in your Torah: “An ox or a sheep, it and its offspring you shall not slaughter on one day”’ (Leviticus 22:28). She said to him: ‘You absolute fool, have you already fulfilled all the mitzvot and only this one remains?’ Immediately, he commanded to execute [the son]. His mother fell upon him and was hugging him and kissing him. She said to him: ‘My son, go to Abraham your patriarch and say to him: So said my mother: Do not be overly impressed with yourself and say: I built an altar and sacrificed Isaac, my son. My mother built seven altars and sacrificed seven sons on one day. Yours was an ordeal, mine was an action.’181Your was a test to see if you were willing to sacrifice your son, but you did not actually sacrifice him. My sons were actually killed. While she was hugging him and kissing him, he issued a decree against him and they executed him upon her. When he was executed, the Sages calculated the age of that child and it was discovered that he was two years, six months, and six and one half hours. At that moment, all the nations of the world screamed out and said: ‘What is the God of these people doing to them that they are killed on His behalf all the time?’ In their regard it is written: “For we are killed all day long for You” (Psalms 44:23).
Sometime later, that woman went mad and she fell from the roof and died, to realize what is stated: “She who bore seven is miserable” (Jeremiah 15:9). A Divine Voice was calling out, saying: “The mother of the children is joyful” (Psalms 113:9). The Divine Spirit was crying out and saying: “For these I weep.”
He took out the second and said to him: ‘Prostrate yourself to the idol.’ He said to him: ‘God forbid, my brother did not prostrate himself and I will not prostrate myself.’ He said to him: ‘Why?’ He said to him: ‘Because so it is written in our Torah: “You shall have no other gods before Me”’ (Exodus 20:3). Immediately, he issued a decree against him and they executed him. He took out the third and said to him: ‘Prostrate yourself to the idol.’ He said to him: ‘I will not prostrate myself.’ He said to him: ‘Why?’ He said to him: ‘Because so it is written in our Torah: “For you shall not prostrate yourself to another god”’ (Exodus 34:14). Immediately, he issued a decree against him and they executed him. He took out the fourth and [the son] recited his verse: “One who sacrifices to gods shall be destroyed” (Exodus 22:19). He issued a decree against him and they executed him. He took out the fifth and he, too, recited his verse: “Hear Israel, the Lord is our God the Lord is one” (Deuteronomy 6:4). Immediately, he issued a decree against him and they executed him. He took out the sixth and he, too, recited his verse: “For the Lord your God is in your midst, a God great and awesome” (Deuteronomy 7:21). Immediately, he issued a decree against him and they executed him.
He took out the seventh, who was the youngest of them all. He said: ‘My son, prostrate yourself to the idol.’ He said to him: ‘God forbid.’ He said to him: ‘Why?’ He said to him: ‘Because so it is written in our Torah: “You shall know this day, and restore to your heart, that the Lord, He is the God in the heavens above and upon the earth below, there is no other” (Deuteronomy 4:39). Moreover, we took an oath to our God that we will not exchange Him for another God, as it is stated: “You have exalted the Lord today [to be your God]” (Deuteronomy 26:17). And just as we took an oath to Him, so He took an oath that He would not exchange us for a different nation, as it is stated: “The Lord has exalted you today [to be a people of distinction for Him]”’ (Deuteronomy 26:18).
The emperor said to him: ‘Your brothers had full days, full lives, and experienced goodness, but you are young, you have not had full days, you have not had a full life, and you have never experienced goodness. Prostrate yourself to the idol and I will do good things for you.’ He said to him: ‘It is written in our Torah: “The Lord will reign forever” (Exodus 15:18). And it says: “The Lord is king forever, nations have been eliminated from His land” (Psalms 10:16). You will cease and His enemies will cease. Flesh and blood lives today and dies tomorrow, is wealthy today and poor tomorrow; but the Holy One blessed be He lives and persists forever and for all time.’ The emperor said to him: ‘See your brothers slain before you. I am casting my ring to the ground before the idol, lift it so everyone will know that you heeded my voice.’ He said to him: ‘It is a shame for you, emperor; if you fear people, who are your equivalent, will I not fear the King of kings, the Holy One blessed be He, the eternal God?’ He said to him: ‘Is there a God in the world?’ He said to him: ‘Woe are you, emperor, have you seen a world without a master?’
He said to him: ‘Does your God have a mouth?’ He said to him: ‘Regarding your gods it is written: “They have a mouth but cannot speak” (Psalms 115:5). Regarding our God it is written: “By the word of the Lord the heavens were made; [by the breath of His mouth, all their hosts]”’ (Psalms 33:6).
He said to him: ‘Does your God have eyes?’ He said to him: ‘Regarding your gods it is written: “They have eyes but cannot see” (Psalms 115:5). Regarding our God it is written: “They are the eyes of the Lord ranging throughout the land”’ (Zechariah 4:10).
He said to him: ‘Does your God have ears?’ He said to him: ‘Regarding your gods it is written: “They have ears but cannot hear” (Psalms 115:6). Regarding our God it is written: “The Lord listened and heard”’ (Malachi 3:16).
He said to him: ‘Does your God have a nose?’ He said to him: ‘Regarding your gods it is written: “They have a nose but cannot smell” (Psalms 115:6). Regarding our God it is written: “The Lord smelled the pleasing aroma”’ (Genesis 8:21).
He said to him: ‘Does your God have hands?’ He said to him: ‘Regarding your gods it is written: “They have hands but cannot feel” (Psalms 115:7). Regarding our God it is written: “My hand, too, laid the foundation”’ (Isaiah 48:13).
He said to him: ‘Does your God have feet?’ He said to him: ‘Regarding your gods it is written: “They have feet but cannot walk” (Psalms 115:7). Regarding our God it is written: “His feet will stand that day on the Mount of Olives”’ (Zechariah 14:4).
He said to him: ‘Does your God have a throat?’ He said to him: ‘Regarding your gods it is written: “They cannot produce sound with their throats” (Psalms 115:7). Regarding our God it is written: “Sound emerges from His mouth”’ (Job 37:2).
He said to him: ‘If there are all these attributes in your God, why does He not rescue you from my hand, like He rescued Ḥananya, Mishael, and Azarya from the hand of Nebuchadnezzar?’ He said to him: ‘Ḥananya, Mishael, and Azarya were upright, and Nebuchadnezzar was a king worthy of having a miracle performed through him. But you are not worthy, and we have been condemned to death at the hand of Heaven. If you do not execute us, there are many executioners for the Omnipresent, many wolves, lions, snakes, leopards, and scorpions to attack us and kill us. But ultimately, the Holy One blessed be He is destined to exact retribution from you for our blood.’ Immediately, he issued a decree against him to execute him.
His mother said to him: ‘By the life of your head, emperor, give me my son and I will hug him and kiss him.’ He gave him to her, and she bared her breasts and nursed him with her milk. She said to him: ‘By the life of your head, emperor, execute me first and then execute him.’ The emperor said to her: ‘I will not heed you because it is written in your Torah: “An ox or a sheep, it and its offspring you shall not slaughter on one day”’ (Leviticus 22:28). She said to him: ‘You absolute fool, have you already fulfilled all the mitzvot and only this one remains?’ Immediately, he commanded to execute [the son]. His mother fell upon him and was hugging him and kissing him. She said to him: ‘My son, go to Abraham your patriarch and say to him: So said my mother: Do not be overly impressed with yourself and say: I built an altar and sacrificed Isaac, my son. My mother built seven altars and sacrificed seven sons on one day. Yours was an ordeal, mine was an action.’181Your was a test to see if you were willing to sacrifice your son, but you did not actually sacrifice him. My sons were actually killed. While she was hugging him and kissing him, he issued a decree against him and they executed him upon her. When he was executed, the Sages calculated the age of that child and it was discovered that he was two years, six months, and six and one half hours. At that moment, all the nations of the world screamed out and said: ‘What is the God of these people doing to them that they are killed on His behalf all the time?’ In their regard it is written: “For we are killed all day long for You” (Psalms 44:23).
Sometime later, that woman went mad and she fell from the roof and died, to realize what is stated: “She who bore seven is miserable” (Jeremiah 15:9). A Divine Voice was calling out, saying: “The mother of the children is joyful” (Psalms 113:9). The Divine Spirit was crying out and saying: “For these I weep.”
Pesikta DeRav Kahana
"When you take a census (Ex. 30:12)."*The Torah reading for Shabbat Shekalim, the first of the Arba Parshiot recited during the maftir on the four Shabbats preceding Passover. As will be explicated midrashically, ki tisa ("when you take") is susceptible to various other meanings.
"Many say of my soul, 'There is no salvation for him through God, Selah.'" (Ps. 3:3). Rabbi Shimon and the Rabbanim: Rabbi Shmuel bar Ami interpreted the verse [as referring] to Doeg and Achitophel.*Doeg the Edomite served under King Saul and carried out the executions of priests who had helped David during his flight from Saul (see 1 Sam. 22:18-19). Achitophel was a counselor to King David who betrayed the king by leading Absalom's rebellion against David, before committing suicide (see 2 Sam. 17:21-23)."Many say of my soul" -- that is Doeg and Achitophel. And why would they be called "many" (rabim)? For they were masters (rabim) of the Torah. "They say of my soul": They said to David, "A person who steals a sheep, kills the shepherd (see 2 Sam. 12:4), and cuts down Israel with a sword, can there be salvation for him? 'There is no salvation for him through God, Selah.'" David said, "But You, Hashem" (Ps. 3:4): You agreed with them, and You wrote in Your Torah, stating, "The adulterer and the adulteress will surely be put to death" (Lev. 20:10). "...Are a shield about me" (Ps. 3:4): For You have shielded me through the merit of my forefathers. "...My glory" (ibid.): For You returned me to the kingship. "...Who holds my head up high" (ibid.): For I was obligated to You and You have granted me a "suspended head" (i.e., suspended my sentence) through the agency of Nathan the Prophet, who said to me, "Even Hashem will pass over your sin; you shall not die" (2 Sam. 12:13).
And the Rabbanim interpret the verse [as referring] to the nations of the world. And why are they called "many"? As it is written, " "Woe to the multitude of many (rabim) peoples" (Is. 17:12). "They say to my soul": They say to Israel, "A nation that heard from the mouth of its God on Mount Sinai, "There shall not be unto you any other Gods before Me" (Ex. 20:2), yet at the end of forty days, [Israel] said to the [Golden] Calf, 'These are your gods, O Israel!' (Ex. 32:4) -- can there be salvation for it? 'There is no salvation for him through God, Selah.'" Israel said, "But You, Hashem, agreed with them, and You and wrote in Your Torah, saying, 'He who sacrifices to [other] gods shall be utterly destroyed' (Ex. 22:19).'" "...A shield about me": For You have shielded us through the merit of our forefathers. "...My glory": For you have caused Your Shekhinah to dwell in our midst, as it is written, "And make for Me a sanctuary, and I will dwell in their midst" (Ex. 25:8). "...Who holds my head up high": For we were obligated to You and You have granted us a suspended head (rosh) through the agency of Moses, and You said, "When you take a census (ki tisa et rosh; or midrashically, 'When you take away [the guilt from] the head') of the Children of Israel" (Ex. 30:12).
"Many say of my soul, 'There is no salvation for him through God, Selah.'" (Ps. 3:3). Rabbi Shimon and the Rabbanim: Rabbi Shmuel bar Ami interpreted the verse [as referring] to Doeg and Achitophel.*Doeg the Edomite served under King Saul and carried out the executions of priests who had helped David during his flight from Saul (see 1 Sam. 22:18-19). Achitophel was a counselor to King David who betrayed the king by leading Absalom's rebellion against David, before committing suicide (see 2 Sam. 17:21-23)."Many say of my soul" -- that is Doeg and Achitophel. And why would they be called "many" (rabim)? For they were masters (rabim) of the Torah. "They say of my soul": They said to David, "A person who steals a sheep, kills the shepherd (see 2 Sam. 12:4), and cuts down Israel with a sword, can there be salvation for him? 'There is no salvation for him through God, Selah.'" David said, "But You, Hashem" (Ps. 3:4): You agreed with them, and You wrote in Your Torah, stating, "The adulterer and the adulteress will surely be put to death" (Lev. 20:10). "...Are a shield about me" (Ps. 3:4): For You have shielded me through the merit of my forefathers. "...My glory" (ibid.): For You returned me to the kingship. "...Who holds my head up high" (ibid.): For I was obligated to You and You have granted me a "suspended head" (i.e., suspended my sentence) through the agency of Nathan the Prophet, who said to me, "Even Hashem will pass over your sin; you shall not die" (2 Sam. 12:13).
And the Rabbanim interpret the verse [as referring] to the nations of the world. And why are they called "many"? As it is written, " "Woe to the multitude of many (rabim) peoples" (Is. 17:12). "They say to my soul": They say to Israel, "A nation that heard from the mouth of its God on Mount Sinai, "There shall not be unto you any other Gods before Me" (Ex. 20:2), yet at the end of forty days, [Israel] said to the [Golden] Calf, 'These are your gods, O Israel!' (Ex. 32:4) -- can there be salvation for it? 'There is no salvation for him through God, Selah.'" Israel said, "But You, Hashem, agreed with them, and You and wrote in Your Torah, saying, 'He who sacrifices to [other] gods shall be utterly destroyed' (Ex. 22:19).'" "...A shield about me": For You have shielded us through the merit of our forefathers. "...My glory": For you have caused Your Shekhinah to dwell in our midst, as it is written, "And make for Me a sanctuary, and I will dwell in their midst" (Ex. 25:8). "...Who holds my head up high": For we were obligated to You and You have granted us a suspended head (rosh) through the agency of Moses, and You said, "When you take a census (ki tisa et rosh; or midrashically, 'When you take away [the guilt from] the head') of the Children of Israel" (Ex. 30:12).
Midrash Tehillim
Many say to my soul: Rabbi Shmuel interpreted the verse about Doeg and Ahithophel who were many in Torah. They said that if a person can steal a sheep, kill the shepherd, and kill Israel with a sword, he has salvation. There is no salvation for him. But you, O Lord, are a shield for me, and for all those whom you have protected through the merit of my forefathers. My glory is through my senses, which have been established by Him. And I lift up my head through Nathan the prophet, who said to me in your name (2 Samuel 12:13), "The Lord has also put away your sin." The rabbis interpreted the verse about the nations of the world. Many of these are the nations of the world, as it says (Isaiah 17:12), "Woe to the multitude of many people." They say to my soul: Perhaps a nation that heard from the mouth of God that He said (Exodus 20:3), "You shall have no other gods before me." And at the end of forty days they said to the calf (Exodus 32:4), "This is your God, O Israel." They have salvation. There is no salvation for him. But you, O Lord, who agreed with them in the Torah (Exodus 22:19), "He who sacrifices to any god other than the Lord must be destroyed." You are a shield for me, because if not for their protection, my father would have destroyed us. My glory is that Your divine presence dwells among us, as it says (Exodus 25:8), "And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them." And I lift up my head, for we are obligated to you and you have given us a suspended head, as it says (Exodus 30:12), "When you take a census of the people."