2. Another word: “You shall tear down their altars” (Dt.12:3).29The smaller font represents material regarded by F:126, n.8, as a textual interpolation. On this basis they taught: There are three kinds of Ashera-trees, [one being proscribed and two being tolerated]: a tree which they planted originally to serve a foreign cult— indeed, it is proscribed, for it is stated: “Their Ashera-trees you shall burn with fire” (Dt.12:3). If it sprouted shoots— he should remove the shoots. For it is stated: “The images of their gods you shall cut down” (Dt.12:3). If it did not sprout shoots, but they set up an idol beneath it, and later removed it— indeed, this is permitted [once the idol is gone].30//M. AZ.3:7. for it is stated: “And you shall destroy their name from that place . . . You must not treat HASHEM your God in such a way” (Dt.12:3-4).
3.There are three kinds of house [one being proscribed and two being tolerated]: a house which they built originally to serve a foreign cult— indeed, it is proscribed, for it is stated: “You must utterly destroy all the places” (Dt.12:2). If it was renovated— he should remove what was renovated, for it is stated: “And you shall destroy their name from that place” (Dt.12:3). If it was not renovated, but they brought an image into it and later removed it— indeed, this is permitted [once the image is gone].31//M. AZ.3:7. for it is stated: “You shall tear down their altars and smash their pillars” (Dt.12:3)— that is, having torn down the altar, just leave the ruins, having smashed their pillar, just leave the ruins.4. Is it possible to say that you are required to pursue [servants of a foreign cult] beyond the Land? The Teaching states: “You shall destroy their name from that place” (Dt.12:3)— that is, you are commanded to pursue them from the Land of Israel, but you are not commanded to pursue them beyond the Land.
5. R. Eliezer says: on what basis do I know that one who cuts down an Ashera-tree must uproot it as well? The Teaching states: “And you shall destroy their name” (Dt.12:3). Said to him R. Akiva: Why do I need this verse? Isn’t it already stated: “You shall utterly destroy” (Dt.12:2)? What does the Teaching add by stating: “And you shall destroy their name” (Dt.12:3)? [do we] change the names of their cultic shrines? Or, is it possible to say that [we should select] more appropriate names? The Teaching states: “Utterly despise it, be utterly revolted by it” (Dt.7:26)— [by selecting a more appropriate name].32Cf. T.AZ.6[7]:4. The Tosefta offers a number of examples of changing the name of a shrine, e.g., from “The Face of God” to “Dog-Face!”
6. On what basis do I know that one who carves a single stone from the Sanctuary, from the Altar, or from the Courtyards transgresses a proscription? The Teaching states: “You shall tear down their altars, and smash their pillars . . . you must not treat HASHEM your God in such a way” (Dt.12:3-4).33//T. Mak.5:8. R. Ishmael says: on what basis do I know that one who erases a single letter from the Holy Name transgresses a proscription? For it is stated: “You shall destroy their name . . . you must not treat HASHEM your God in such a way” (Dt.12:3-4).34//T. Mak.5:9. Rabban Gamliel says: now, could you imagine that Israel would tear down their own altars? Heaven forbid! Rather, this is the point— do not do as they do, lest your wicked deeds cause the Holy Shrine of your ancestors to be destroyed!
(דברים יב ג) וְנִתַּצְתֶּם אֶת מִזְבְּחֹתָם – זוֹ אֶבֶן שֶׁחֲצָבָהּ מִתְּחִלָּה לַעֲבוֹדָה זָרָה,
Pisqa’ 6128H:116-117;JN1:189-190.
1. “You shall tear down their altars” (Dt.12:3)—
this refers to a stone mined
originally to serve a foreign cult.
וְשִׁבַּרְתֶּם אֶת מַצֵּבֹתָם – זוֹ שֶׁהָיְתָה חֲצוּבָה וַעֲבָדָהּ.
“And smash their pillars” (Dt.12:3)—
this refers to those first mined innocently,
and later worshipped.
וַאֲשֵׁרֵיהֶם תִּשְׂרְפוּן בָּאֵשׁ – זוֹ אֲשֵׁירָה שֶׁנַּעֲשֵׂית מִתְּחִלָּה לַעֲבוֹדָה זָרָה,
“And their Ashera-trees you shall burn with fire” (Dt.12:3)—
this refers to an Ashera-tree which is planted
originally to serve a foreign cult.
וּפְסִילֵי אֱלֹהֵיהֶם תְּגַדֵּעוּן – זוֹ שֶׁהָיְתָה נְטוּעָה וַעֲבָדָהּ.
“And the images of their gods
you shall tear down” (Dt.12:3)—
this refers to those first planted and later worshipped.
דָּבָר אַחֵר: וְנִתַּצְתֶּם אֶת מִזְבְּחֹתָם, מִכָּן אָמְרוּ (ע״ז פ״ג מ״ז) שָׁלֹשׁ אֲשֵׁרוֹת הֵם: אִילָן שֶׁנְּטָעוֹ מִתְּחִלָּה לַעֲבוֹדָה זָרָה – הֲרֵי זֶה אָסוּר, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וַאֲשֵׁרֵיהֶם תִּשְׂרְפוּן בָּאֵשׁ. הֶחְלִיף – נוֹטֵל מַה שֶׁהֶחְלִיף, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וּפְסִילֵי אֱלֹהֵיהֶם תְּגַדֵּעוּן. לֹא הֶחְלִיף, אֶלָּא הֶעֱמִיד תַּחְתָּיו עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה וְסִלְּקוֹ – הֲרֵי זֶה מֻתָּר, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וְאִבַּדְתֶּם אֶת שְׁמָם מִן הַמָּקוֹם הַהוּא, לֹא תַעֲשׂוּן כֵּן לַה׳ אֱלֹהֵיכֶם.
2. Another word:
“You shall tear down their altars” (Dt.12:3).29The smaller font represents material regarded by F:126, n.8, as a textual interpolation.
On this basis they taught:
There are three kinds of Ashera-trees,
[one being proscribed and two being tolerated]:
a tree which they planted
originally to serve a foreign cult—
indeed, it is proscribed,
for it is stated:
“Their Ashera-trees you shall burn with fire” (Dt.12:3).
If it sprouted shoots—
he should remove the shoots.
For it is stated:
“The images of their gods you shall cut down” (Dt.12:3).
If it did not sprout shoots,
but they set up an idol beneath it,
and later removed it—
indeed, this is permitted
[once the idol is gone].30//M. AZ.3:7.
for it is stated:
“And you shall destroy their name from that place . . .
You must not treat HASHEM your God in such a way” (Dt.12:3-4).
שְׁלֹשָׁה בָּתִּים הֵם: בַּיִת שֶׁבְּנָאוֹ מִתְּחִלָּה לַעֲבוֹדָה זָרָה – הֲרֵי זֶה אָסוּר, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״אַבֵּד תְּאַבְּדוּן אֶת כָּל הַמְּקוֹמוֹת״, חִדֵּשׁ – נוֹטֵל מַה שֶּׁחִדֵּשׁ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְאִבַּדְתֶּם אֶת שְׁמָם״, לֹא חִדֵּשׁ אֶלָּא הִכְנִיס לְתוֹכוֹ עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה וְהוֹצִיאָהּ – הֲרֵי זֶה מֻתָּר, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וְנִתַּצְתֶּם אֶת מִזְבְּחֹתָם וְשִׁבַּרְתֶּ[ם] אֶת מַצֵּבֹתָם. נִתַּצְתָּה אֶת הַמִּזְבֵּחַ – הַנַּח לוֹ, שִׁבַּרְתָּה אֶת הַמַּצֵּבָה – הַנַּח לָהּ. יָכוֹל אַף מְצֻוֶּה לִרְדֹּף אַחֲרֵיהֶם בְּחוּצָה לָאָרֶץ? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: וְאִבַּדְתֶּם אֶת שְׁמָם מִן הַמָּקוֹם הַהוּא, בְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל אַתָּה מְצֻוֶּה לִרְדֹּף אַחֲרֵיהֶם, וְאֵין אַתָּה מְצֻוֶּה לִרְדֹּף אַחֲרֵיהֶם בְּחוּצָה לָאָרֶץ.
3.There are three kinds of house
[one being proscribed and two being tolerated]:
a house which they built
originally to serve a foreign cult—
indeed, it is proscribed,
for it is stated:
“You must utterly destroy all the places” (Dt.12:2).
If it was renovated—
he should remove what was renovated,
for it is stated:
“And you shall destroy their name from that place” (Dt.12:3).
If it was not renovated,
but they brought an image into it
and later removed it—
indeed, this is permitted
[once the image is gone].31//M. AZ.3:7.
for it is stated:
“You shall tear down their altars and smash their pillars” (Dt.12:3)—
that is, having torn down the altar, just leave the ruins,
having smashed their pillar, just leave the ruins.4. Is it possible to say that
you are required to pursue
[servants of a foreign cult] beyond the Land?
The Teaching states:
“You shall destroy their name from that place” (Dt.12:3)—
that is, you are commanded to pursue them
from the Land of Israel,
but you are not commanded to pursue them
beyond the Land.
רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר אוֹמֵר: מִנַּיִן לַקּוֹצֵץ אֶת הָאֲשֵׁרָה שֶׁחַיָּב לְשָׁרְשָׁהּ? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: וְאִבַּדְתֶּם אֶת שְׁמָם. אָמַר לוֹ רַבִּי עֲקִיבָה: מָה אֲנִי צָרִיךְ? וַהֲלֹא כְּבָר נֶאֱמַר: ״אַבֵּד תְּאַבְּדוּן״, מַה תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר וְאִבַּדְתֶּם אֶת שְׁמָם? לְשַׁנּוֹת אֶת שְׁמָם. אוֹ יָכוֹל לְשֶׁבַח? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר (דברים ז כו): ״שַׁקֵּץ תְּשַׁקְּצֶנּוּ וְתַעֵב תְּתַעֲבֶנּוּ״.
5. R. Eliezer says:
on what basis do I know that
one who cuts down an Ashera-tree
must uproot it as well?
The Teaching states:
“And you shall destroy their name” (Dt.12:3).
Said to him R. Akiva:
Why do I need this verse?
Isn’t it already stated:
“You shall utterly destroy” (Dt.12:2)?
What does the Teaching add by stating:
“And you shall destroy their name” (Dt.12:3)?
[do we] change the names of their cultic shrines?
Or, is it possible to say that
[we should select] more appropriate names?
The Teaching states:
“Utterly despise it, be utterly revolted by it” (Dt.7:26)—
[by selecting a more appropriate name].32Cf. T.AZ.6[7]:4. The Tosefta offers a number of examples of changing the name of a shrine, e.g., from “The Face of God” to “Dog-Face!”
מִנַּיִן לְנוֹתֵץ אֶבֶן אַחַת מִן הַהֵיכָל וּמִן הַמִּזְבֵּחַ וּמִן הָעֲזָרוֹת, שֶׁעוֹבֵר בְּלֹא תַעֲשֶׂה? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: וְנִתַּצְתֶּם אֶת מִזְבְּחֹתָם וְשִׁבַּרְתֶּם אֶת מַצֵּבֹתָם לֹא תַעֲשׂוּן כֵּן לַה׳ אֱלֹהֵיכֶם. רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל אוֹמֵר: מִנַּיִן לְמוֹחֵק אוֹת אַחַת מִן הַשֵּׁם שֶׁעוֹבֵר בְּלֹא תַעֲשֶׂה? שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וְאִבַּדְתֶּם אֶת שְׁמָם לֹא תַעֲשׂוּן כֵּן לַה׳ אֱלֹהֵיכֶם. רַבָּן גַּמְלִיאֵל אוֹמֵר: וְכִי תַּעֲלֶה עַל דַּעְתְּךָ שֶׁיִּשְׂרָאֵל נוֹתְצִים לְמִזְבְּחוֹתֵיהֶם חַס וְשָׁלוֹם? אֶלָּא שֶׁלֹּא תַעֲשׂוּ כְּמַעֲשֵׂיהֶם וְיִגְרְמוּ מַעֲשֵׂיכֶם הָרָעִים לְמִקְדַּשׁ אֲבוֹתֵיכֶם שֶׁיֶּחֱרַב.
6. On what basis do I know that
one who carves a single stone
from the Sanctuary, from the Altar, or from the Courtyards
transgresses a proscription?
The Teaching states:
“You shall tear down their altars, and smash their pillars . . .
you must not treat HASHEM your God in such a way” (Dt.12:3-4).33//T. Mak.5:8.
R. Ishmael says:
on what basis do I know that
one who erases a single letter
from the Holy Name
transgresses a proscription?
For it is stated:
“You shall destroy their name . . . you must not treat HASHEM your God in such a way” (Dt.12:3-4).34//T. Mak.5:9.
Rabban Gamliel says:
now, could you imagine that
Israel would tear down their own altars?
Heaven forbid!
Rather, this is the point—
do not do as they do,
lest your wicked deeds cause the Holy Shrine
of your ancestors to be destroyed!