This week's Parshah contains several disturbing discussions about the conquest of the land, with God adjuring the people of Israel to destroy all evidence of pagan practices in the land they are to inherit. What we will discuss today is how this plays itself out in terms of the idea that the Jewish people are a people of the book. How do the rabbis read even the discussion of the people's militarization in terms of textuality?
(א) אֵ֠לֶּה הַֽחֻקִּ֣ים וְהַמִּשְׁפָּטִים֮ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תִּשְׁמְר֣וּן לַעֲשׂוֹת֒ בָּאָ֕רֶץ אֲשֶׁר֩ נָתַ֨ן יְהֹוָ֜ה אֱלֹהֵ֧י אֲבֹתֶ֛יךָ לְךָ֖ לְרִשְׁתָּ֑הּ כׇּ֨ל־הַיָּמִ֔ים אֲשֶׁר־אַתֶּ֥ם חַיִּ֖ים עַל־הָאֲדָמָֽה׃ (ב) אַבֵּ֣ד תְּ֠אַבְּד֠וּן אֶֽת־כׇּל־הַמְּקֹמ֞וֹת אֲשֶׁ֧ר עָֽבְדוּ־שָׁ֣ם הַגּוֹיִ֗ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר אַתֶּ֛ם יֹרְשִׁ֥ים אֹתָ֖ם אֶת־אֱלֹהֵיהֶ֑ם עַל־הֶהָרִ֤ים הָֽרָמִים֙ וְעַל־הַגְּבָע֔וֹת וְתַ֖חַת כׇּל־עֵ֥ץ רַעֲנָֽן׃ (ג) וְנִתַּצְתֶּ֣ם אֶת־מִזְבְּחֹתָ֗ם וְשִׁבַּרְתֶּם֙ אֶת־מַצֵּ֣בֹתָ֔ם וַאֲשֵֽׁרֵיהֶם֙ תִּשְׂרְפ֣וּן בָּאֵ֔שׁ וּפְסִילֵ֥י אֱלֹֽהֵיהֶ֖ם תְּגַדֵּע֑וּן וְאִבַּדְתֶּ֣ם אֶת־שְׁמָ֔ם מִן־הַמָּק֖וֹם הַהֽוּא׃ (ד) לֹֽא־תַעֲשׂ֣וּן כֵּ֔ן לַיהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃
(1) These are the laws and rules that you must carefully observe in the land that יהוה, God of your ancestors, is giving you to possess, as long as you live on earth. (2) You must destroy all the sites at which the nations you are to dispossess worshiped their gods, whether on lofty mountains and on hills or under any luxuriant tree. (3) Tear down their altars, smash their pillars, put their sacred posts to the fire, and cut down the images of their gods, obliterating their name from that site. (4) Do not worship your God יהוה in like manner,
(ה) כִּ֠י אִֽם־אֶל־הַמָּק֞וֹם אֲשֶׁר־יִבְחַ֨ר יְהֹוָ֤ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶם֙ מִכׇּל־שִׁבְטֵיכֶ֔ם לָשׂ֥וּם אֶת־שְׁמ֖וֹ שָׁ֑ם לְשִׁכְנ֥וֹ תִדְרְשׁ֖וּ וּבָ֥אתָ שָּֽׁמָּה׃
(5) but look only to the site that your God יהוה will choose amidst all your tribes as God’s habitation, to establish the divine name there. There you are to go,
(א) לא תעשון כן. לְהַקְטִיר לַשָּׁמַיִם בְּכָל מָקוֹם, כִּי אִם בַּמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר יִבְחַר. דָּ"אַ — ונתצתם את מזבחתם, ואבדתם את שמם, לא תעשון כן. אַזְהָרָה לַמּוֹחֵק אֶת הַשֵּׁם וְלַנּוֹתֵץ אֶבֶן מִן הַמִּזְבֵּחַ אוֹ מִן הָעֲזָרָה (מכות כ"ב). אָמַר רַ' יִשְׁמָעֵאל וְכִי תַעֲלֶה עַל דַּעְתְּךָ שֶׁיִּשְׂרָאֵל נוֹתְצִין אֶת הַמִּזְבְּחוֹת? אֶלָּא שֶׁלֹּא תַעֲשׂוּ כְמַעֲשֵׂיהֶם וְיִגְרְמוּ עֲוֹנוֹתֵיכֶם לְמִקְדַּשׁ אֲבוֹתֵיכֶם שֶׁיִּתְחָרֵב (ספרי):
(1) לא תעשון כן YE SHALL NOT DO SO [UNTO THE LORD YOUR GOD] — i.e. to burn offerings to God at any place you choose (as do the idolaters, cf. v. 2), but at the place which He will choose (cf. vv. 5—6). — Another explanation is: ונתצתם את מזבחתם … ואבדתם את שמם … לא תעשון כן YE SHALL PULL DOWN THEIR ALTARS … YE SHALL DESTROY THEIR NAMES … BUT YE SHALL NOT DO THIS [TO THE LORD YOUR GOD] — It is a prohibition addressed to one who would blot out the Name of God from any writing, or would pull out a stone from the altar or from the forecourt (cf. Sifrei Devarim 61:12; Makkot 22a). R. Ishmael said: “But can the idea enter your mind that the Israelites would pull down the altars of God?” But the meaning of לא תעשון כן is that you should not do like their doings so that your sins would cause the Sanctuary of (built by) your fathers to be laid waste (Sifrei Devarim 61:12).
אֲמַר לֵיהּ רַב אַחָא בְּרֵיהּ דְּרָבָא לְרַב אָשֵׁי: וְלִילְקֵי נָמֵי מִשּׁוּם ״לֹא תָבִיא תוֹעֵבָה אֶל בֵּיתֶךָ״! אֶלָּא: הָכָא בְּמַאי עָסְקִינַן – כְּגוֹן שֶׁבִּישְּׁלוֹ בַּעֲצֵי הֶקְדֵּשׁ, וְאַזְהַרְתֵּיהּ מֵהָכָא: ״וַאֲשֵׁרֵיהֶם תִּשְׂרְפוּן בָּאֵשׁ... לֹא תַעֲשׂוּן כֵּן לַה׳ אֱלֹהֵיכֶם״.
Rav Aḥa, son of Rava, said to Rav Ashi: If the reference is to the wood of an ashera, let him also be flogged for violating the prohibition: “You shall not bring an abomination into your house” (Deuteronomy 7:26), in addition to the other prohibitions enumerated. Rather, say: What are we dealing with here? We are dealing with a case where one cooked the sciatic nerve with wood consecrated for use in the Temple, whose warning, the source of its prohibition, is from here: “And their asherim you shall burn in fire…you shall not do so to the Lord your God” (Deuteronomy 12:3–4), indicating that one who destroys a consecrated item violates a prohibition.
מַתְקֵיף לַהּ רַב חֲנַנְיָא: וְלִיחְשׁוֹב נָמֵי הַמּוֹחֵק אֶת הַשֵּׁם בַּהֲלִיכָתוֹ, וְאַזְהָרְתֵּיהּ מֵהָכָא: ״וְאִבַּדְתֶּם אֶת שְׁמָם וְגוֹ׳ (וְ)לֹא תַעֲשׂוּן כֵּן לַה׳ אֱלֹהֵיכֶם״!
Rav Ḥananya objects to this: And let the tanna also enumerate one who erases the name of God in the course of his walking and plowing, and its prohibition is from here: “And you shall destroy their names…you shall not do so to the Lord your God” (Deuteronomy 12:3–4).
(א) לֹא תַעֲשׂוּן כֵּן לַה' אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, לְהַקְטִיר לַשָּׁמַיִם בְּכָל מָקוֹם, כִּי אִם בַּמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר יִבְחַר. דָּבָר אַחֵר, וְנִתַּצְתֶּם אֶת מִזְבְּחוֹתָם וְאִבַּדְתֶּם אֶת שְׁמָם לֹא תַעֲשׂוּן כֵּן, אַזְהָרָה לְמוֹחֵק אֶת הַשֵּׁם וּלְנוֹתֵץ אֶבֶן אַחַת מִן הַמִּזְבֵּחַ אוֹ מִן הָעֲזָרָה. אָמַר רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל, וְכִי תַּעֲלֶה עַל דַּעְתְּךָ שֶׁיִּשְׂרָאֵל נוֹתְצִין הַמִּזְבְּחוֹת, אֶלָּא שֶׁלֹּא יַעֲשׂוּ כְּמַעֲשֵׂיהֶם וְיִגְרְמוּ עֲוֹנוֹתֵיכֶם לְמִקְדַּשׁ אֲבוֹתֵיכֶם לֵחָרֵב, לְשׁוֹן רַשִׁ"י (רש"י על דברים י"ב:ד'). וְדִבְרֵי רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל סְמָךְ שֶׁל אַגָּדָה הֵם, אֲבָל הַכָּתוּב כְּדַעַת רַבּוֹתֵינוּ אַזְהָרָה לְמוֹחֵק אֶת הַשֵּׁם, וּמְפֹרָשׁ בְּמַסֶּכֶת מַכּוֹת (מכות כ"ב), וְהָא אִיכָּא מוֹחֵק אֶת הַשֵּׁם דְּלָקֵי, וְאַזְהָרְתֵּהּ מֵהָכָא, לֹא תַעֲשׂוּן כֵּן לַה' אֱלֹהֵיכֶם. וּלְשׁוֹן סִפְרֵי (ראה ז), מִנַּיִן לְנוֹתֵץ אֶבֶן אַחַת וְכוּ', רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל אוֹמֵר מִנַּיִן לְמוֹחֵק אוֹת אַחַת מִן הַשֵּׁם שֶׁעוֹבֵר בְּלֹא תַּעֲשֶׂה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וְאִבַּדְתֶּם אֶת שְׁמָם לֹא תַעֲשׂוּן כֵּן, רַבָּן גַּמְלִיאֵל בְּרַבִּי אוֹמֵר, וְכִי תַּעֲלֶה עַל דַּעְתְּךָ וְכוּ'. וְדִבְרֵי רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל אֵינָם בְּמַחְלֹקֶת, אֲבָל הֵם בֵּאוּר, כִּי מוֹחֵק אֶת הַשֵּׁם כְּנוֹתֵץ אֶבֶן מִן הַמִּזְבֵּחַ, וְאִם כֵּן יִהְיֶה פֵּרוּשׁ הַכָּתוּב וְנִתַּצְתֶּם אֶת מִזְבְּחוֹתָם וְאִבַּדְתֶּם אֶת שְׁמָם מִן הַמָּקוֹם הַהוּא, וְלֹא תַעֲשׂוּן כֵּן לַה' אֱלֹהֵיכֶם לִנְתֹּץ אֶת מִזְבְּחוֹ וּלְאַבֵּד אֶת שְׁמוֹ, אֲבָל תְּנוּ כָבוֹד לִשְׁמוֹ וּלְמִזְבְּחוֹ, וְאֶל הַמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר יִבְחַר בּוֹ לָשׂוּם שָׁם מִזְבֵּחַ לִשְׁמוֹ תִּדְרְשׁוּ, וְתָבִיאוּ עוֹלוֹתֵיכֶם לְפָנָיו:
(1) YE SHALL NOT DO SO UNTO THE ETERNAL YOUR G-D — Ramban understood the text of Rashi as follows: The unnamed First Sage holds that the prohibition before us covers both erasing the Divine Name and dismantling His altar, whereas Rabbi Yishmael differs, holding the verse to be an admonition against imitating the deeds of the idolators which will cause the destruction of the Sanctuary. Ramban, however, holds the verse, Ye shall not do so etc., to be only an admonition against erasing G-d’s Name, and that such is also the opinion of Rabbi Yishmael. Rabbi Yishmael’s words quoted by Rashi are a clarification, teaching that “erasing the Divine Name is equivalent to dismantling a stone of the Divine altar.” Furthermore, the text quoted by Rashi in the name of Rabbi Yishmael is attributed by the Sifre to Rabban Gamaliel, which perforce is only a homiletic statement, that sinning is tantamount to destruction of G-d’s altar. Hence the same text in Rashi must also be understood in the same light (Mizrachi). rather, they are a clarification that erasing the Divine Name is equivalent to dismantling a stone of the altar. And if so, the meaning of the verses would be: “And ye shall break down their altars etc. and ye shall destroy their name out of that place — but ye shall not do so unto the Eternal your G-d to break down His altar, nor to destroy His Name. Instead, give glory to His Name22Malachi 2:2. and His altar, and to the place which He shall choose there to establish His altar; to [the place where] His Name dwells shall you seek, and bring your burnt-offerings before Him.”
מאי טעמא אמר קרא (דברים יג, יז) ואת כל שללה תקבוץ אל תוך רחבה ושרפת באש וכיון דאי איכא מזוזה לא אפשר דכתיב (דברים יב, ד) לא תעשון כן לה' אלהיכם אמר רבי יונתן אני ראיתיה וישבתי על תילה
The Gemara asks: What is the reason that a city that has even one mezuza cannot become an idolatrous city? The Gemara answers: The verse states: “And you shall gather all the spoil of it into the midst of the open space of the city, and shall burn with fire both the city and the entire plunder taken in it” (Deuteronomy 13:17). And since if there is a mezuza there it is impossible to burn all the contents of the city, as it is written: “And you shall overthrow their altars, and break their pillars, and burn their asherim with fire…This you shall not do so to the Lord your God” (Deuteronomy 12:3–4). It is derived from this verse that it is prohibited to destroy a sacred item such as a mezuza. Therefore, in a city that has even one mezuza, it is impossible to fulfill the halakhot of an idolatrous city, as not all of its contents may be burned. Rabbi Yonatan says: This is not so, as I once saw an idolatrous city that was condemned to destruction, and I even sat on its ruins.
(כו) רְאֵ֗ה אָנֹכִ֛י נֹתֵ֥ן לִפְנֵיכֶ֖ם הַיּ֑וֹם בְּרָכָ֖ה וּקְלָלָֽה׃ (כז) אֶֽת־הַבְּרָכָ֑ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר תִּשְׁמְע֗וּ אֶל־מִצְוֺת֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֧ר אָנֹכִ֛י מְצַוֶּ֥ה אֶתְכֶ֖ם הַיּֽוֹם׃ (כח) וְהַקְּלָלָ֗ה אִם־לֹ֤א תִשְׁמְעוּ֙ אֶל־מִצְוֺת֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֔ם וְסַרְתֶּ֣ם מִן־הַדֶּ֔רֶךְ אֲשֶׁ֧ר אָנֹכִ֛י מְצַוֶּ֥ה אֶתְכֶ֖ם הַיּ֑וֹם לָלֶ֗כֶת אַחֲרֵ֛י אֱלֹהִ֥ים אֲחֵרִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹֽא־יְדַעְתֶּֽם׃ {ס}
(26) See, this day I set before you blessing and curse: (27) blessing, if you obey the commandments of your God יהוה that I enjoin upon you this day; (28) and curse, if you do not obey the commandments of your God יהוה, but turn away from the path that I enjoin upon you this day and follow other gods, whom you have not experienced.*whom you have not experienced I.e., who have not proved themselves to you; cf. Hos. 13.4.