הלכות עבודה זרה וחוקות הגויים ה׳Foreign Worship and Customs of the Nations 5

Halacha 1א׳

הַמֵּסִית אֶחָד מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל בֵּין אִישׁ בֵּין אִשָּׁה הֲרֵי זֶה נִסְקָל אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁלֹּא עָבַד הַמֵּסִית וְלֹא הַמּוּסָת עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים אֶלָּא מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהוֹרָהוּ לַעֲבֹד. בֵּין שֶׁהָיָה הַמֵּסִית הֶדְיוֹט בֵּין שֶׁהָיָה נָבִיא בֵּין שֶׁהָיָה הַמּוּסָת יָחִיד אִישׁ אוֹ אִשָּׁה אוֹ יְחִידִים מִיתָתוֹ בִּסְקִילָה:

He who entices an Israelite man or woman to idolatry is stoned, even though neither the enticer nor the enticed worshipped an idol, but because he gave instruction to worship an idol. And whether the enticer was a layman or a prophet, or whether only one person—male or female—was enticed or a number of persons were enticed, the punishment is death by stoning.

Halacha 2ב׳

הַמֵּסִית אֶת רֹב אַנְשֵׁי הָעִיר הֲרֵי זֶה מַדִּיחַ וְאֵינוֹ נִקְרָא מֵסִית. הָיָה זֶה שֶׁהִדִּיחַ רֹב הָעִיר נָבִיא מִיתָתוֹ בִּסְקִילָה וְהַנִּדָּחִים הֲרֵי הֵן כִּיחִידִים וְאֵינָם כְּאַנְשֵׁי עִיר הַנִּדַּחַת עַד שֶׁיִּהְיוּ הַמַּדִּיחִים שְׁנַיִם. וְאֶחָד הָאוֹמֵר אָמְרָה לִי עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים עִבְדוּהָ. אוֹ שֶׁאָמַר אָמַר לִי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עִבְדוּ עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים הֲרֵי זֶה נָבִיא שֶׁהִדִּיחַ. וְאִם הֻדְּחוּ אַחֲרָיו רֹב הָעִיר נִסְקָל. הַמֵּסִית שֶׁהֵסִית בֵּין בִּלְשׁוֹן רַבִּים בֵּין בִּלְשׁוֹן יָחִיד הֲרֵי זֶה נִסְקָל. כֵּיצַד. הָאוֹמֵר לַחֲבֵרוֹ אֶעֱבֹד כּוֹכָבִים אֵלֵךְ וְאֶעֱבֹד נֵלֵךְ וְנַעֲבֹד בַּעֲבוֹדָה פְּלוֹנִית שֶׁדֶּרֶךְ אוֹתָהּ עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים לְהֵעָבֵד בָּהּ. אֶזְבַּח אֵלֵךְ וְאֶזְבַּח נֵלֵךְ וְנִזְבַּח. אֲקַטֵּר אֵלֵךְ וַאֲקַטֵר נֵלֵךְ וּנְקַטֵּר. אֲנַסֵּךְ אֵלֵךְ וַאֲנַסֵּךְ נֵלֵךְ וּנְנַסֵּךְ. אֶשְׁתַּחֲוֶה אֵלֵךְ וְאֶשְׁתַּחֲוֶה נֵלֵךְ וְנִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה הֲרֵי זֶה מֵסִית. הֵסִית לִשְׁנַיִם הֲרֵי הֵן עֵדָיו וְהֵן מְבִיאִין אוֹתוֹ לְבֵית דִּין וּמְעִידִין עָלָיו שֶׁכָּךְ אָמַר לָהֶן וְסוֹקְלִין אוֹתוֹ:

He who entices the majority of the inhabitants of a city to idolatry is a seducer and is not styled an enticer. If the seducer of the majority of a city was a prophet, he is put to death by stoning, and those who were seduced are dealt with individually and not as inhabitants of a seduced city, unless there were at least two seducers. Whether one says "The idol said to me 'worship ye it' " or says "the Holy One, blessed be He, said to me 'worship ye the idol' ", in either case, he is regarded as a prophet who seduced. And if the majority of the inhabitants of a city went astray after him, he is put to death by stoning. The enticer, whether he used the plural or singular number, is put to death by stoning. For instance, if one says to another, "I will worship an idol"; "I will go and worship"; let us go and worship with the ritual especially used for that particular idol"; "I will sacrifice"; "I will go and sacrifice"; "let us go and sacrifice"; "I will burn incense"; "I will go and burn incense"; "let us go and prostrate ourselves";—in uttering any of these phrases, he is an enticer. If he enticed two persons, they act as the witnesses. They bring him to the Court and testify concerning him that he had so spoken to them, and he is put to death by stoning.

Halacha 3ג׳

וְאֵין הַמֵּסִית צָרִיךְ הַתְרָאָה. אָמַר לְאֶחָד הוּא אוֹמֵר יֵשׁ לִי חֲבֵרִים רוֹצִים בְּכָךְ וּמַעֲרִים עָלָיו עַד שֶׁיָּסִית בִּפְנֵי שְׁנַיִם כְּדֵי לְהָרְגוֹ. אִם לֹא רָצָה הַמֵּסִית לְהָסִית לִשְׁנַיִם מִצְוָה לְהַכְמִין לוֹ. כָּל חַיָּבֵי מִיתוֹת שֶׁבַּתּוֹרָה אֵין מַכְמִינִין עֲלֵיהֶן חוּץ מִזֶּה. כֵּיצַד מַכְמִינִין לוֹ. הַמּוּסָת מֵבִיא שְׁנַיִם וּמַעֲמִידָן בְּמָקוֹם אָפֵל כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּרְאוּ הַמֵּסִית וְיִשְׁמְעוּ דְּבָרָיו וְלֹא יִרְאֶה אוֹתָם, וְהוּא אוֹמֵר לַמֵּסִית אֱמֹר מַה שֶּׁאָמַרְתָּ לִי בְּיִחוּד, וְהוּא אוֹמֵר לוֹ, וְהַמּוּסָת מְשִׁיבוֹ הֵיאַךְ נַנִּיחַ אֶת אֱלֹהֵינוּ שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַיִם וְנֵלֵךְ וְנַעֲבֹד אֶת הָעֵצִים וְאֶת הָאֲבָנִים. אִם חָזַר בּוֹ אוֹ שָׁתַק פָּטוּר. וְאִם אָמַר לוֹ כָּךְ הִיא חוֹבָתֵנוּ וְכָךְ יָפֶה לָנוּ, הָעוֹמְדִים שָׁם בְּרָחוֹק מְבִיאִין אוֹתוֹ לְבֵית דִּין וְסוֹקְלִים אוֹתוֹ:

For the conviction of an enticer, no previous warning is required. If he spoke to a single individual, that person should reply "I have friends who desire this". And it should be so contrived that the enticer shall make his attempt at seduction before two witnesses, which is necessary to secure his condemnation to death. If the enticer will not consent to entice two persons, it is a duty to secure the evidence of concealed witnesses. In no other class of capital offences but this, is recourse had to this method. What is the procedure ? The one whom he attempted to entice, brings two men, and stations them in a dark place where they can see the enticer and hear his words, while the enticer cannot see them. He then says to the enticer, "Say again what you said to me privately". After the enticer has done so, the one whom he sought to entice replies, "How can we give up our God who is in Heaven, and go and and worship blocks of wood and stones ?" If the enticer retracts or keeps silent, he is not liable. But if he says "This is our duty, and this, it is right for us to do", then those who stood at a distance bring him to the Court and he is put to death by stoning.

Halacha 4ד׳

מִצְוָה בְּיַד הַמּוּסָת לְהָרְגוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים יג י) "יָדְךָ תִּהְיֶה בּוֹ בָרִאשׁוֹנָה לַהֲמִיתוֹ" וְגוֹ'. וְאָסוּר לַמּוּסָת לֶאֱהֹב אֶת הַמֵּסִית שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים יג ט) "לֹא תֹאבֶה לוֹ". וּלְפִי שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בְּשׂוֹנֵא (שמות כג ה) "עָזֹב תַּעֲזֹב עִמּוֹ" יָכוֹל אַתָּה עוֹזֵב לָזֶה תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר (דברים יג ט) "וְלֹא תִשְׁמַע אֵלָיו". וּלְפִי שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא יט טז) "וְלֹא תַעֲמֹד עַל דַּם רֵעֶךָ" יָכוֹל אִי אַתָּה עוֹמֵד עַל דָּמוֹ שֶׁל זֶה תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר (דברים יג ט) "וְלֹא תָחוֹס עֵינְךָ". וְאָסוּר לַמּוּסָת לְלַמֵּד עָלָיו זְכוּת שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים יג ט) "וְלֹא תַחְמל". וְאִם יָדַע לוֹ חוֹבָה אֵינוֹ רַשַּׁאי לִשְׁתֹּק מִמֶּנָּה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים יג ט) "וְלֹא תְכַסֶּה עָלָיו". וְאַזְהָרָה לְהֶדְיוֹט הַמֵּסִית מִנַּיִן שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים יג יב) "וְכָל יִשְׂרָאֵל יִשְׁמְעוּ וְיִרָאוּ":

The execution of the enticer devolves upon the one he attempted to entice, as it is said, "Thy hand shall be first upon him to put him to death" (Deut. 13:10). The latter is forbidden to love the enticer, as it is said "Thou shalt not consent unto him" (Deut. 13:9). Since, in reference to an enemy, it is said "Thou shalt surely release it with him" (Ex. 23:5), it might be supposed that this person (the enticer) should also be helped. It is therefore said "Nor hearken unto him" (Ibid. 13:9). Since it is said, "Neither shalt thou stand idly by the blood of thy neighbour" (Lev. 19:16), it might be supposed that you are not to stand idly by the blood of this man. It is therefore said "Neither shall thine eye pity him" (Deut. 13:9). The enticed must not seek to exculpate the enticer, as it is said "Neither shalt thou spare" (Deut. 13:9). And if he is aware of a ground for the enticer's condemnation, he must not refrain from declaring it, as it is said, "Neither shalt thou conceal him" (ibid. 13:9). Whence is the prohibition inferred, forbidding a layman to entice to idolatry ? From the text "And all Israel shall hear and fear"** The prohibition is implicit in the conclusion of this text. “And they shall not continue to do wickedness like this in thy midst.” (Deut. 13:12).

Halacha 5ה׳

הַמֵּסִית אֲחֵרִים לְעָבְדוֹ וְאָמַר לָהֶם עִבְדוּנִי אִם עֲבָדוּהוּ נִסְקָל וְאִם לֹא עֲבָדוּהוּ אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁקִּבְּלוּ מִמֶּנּוּ וְאָמְרוּ הֵן אֵינוֹ נִסְקָל. אֲבָל אִם הֵסִית לַעֲבוֹדַת אִישׁ אַחֵר אוֹ לִשְׁאָר מִינֵי עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים אִם קִבֵּל מִמֶּנּוּ וְאָמַר הֵן נֵלֵךְ וְנַעֲבֹד אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁעֲדַיִן לֹא עָבַד שְׁנֵיהֶן נִסְקָלִין הַמֵּסִית וְהַמּוּסָת שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים יג ט) "לֹא תֹאבֶה לוֹ וְלֹא תִשְׁמַע אֵלָיו" הָא אִם שָׁמַע וְאָבָה חַיָּב:

If one enticed others to worship him, and said to them "worship me", and they worshipped him, he is stoned; but he is not stoned if they did not worship him, even though they accepted his statement and said "yes".**** They said it in derision. But if he enticed people to the worship of another person or to any other form of idolatry, and the one he addressed accepted his teaching and said "yes, let us go and worship", even though the latter did not yet carry out his intention, both the enticer and the enticed are stoned, as it is said, "Thou shalt not consent unto him nor hearken unto him" (Deut. 13:9), implying that one who does consent and hearken is liable to punishment.

Halacha 6ו׳

נָבִיא הַמִּתְנַבֵּא בְּשֵׁם עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים כֵּיצַד. זֶה הָאוֹמֵר אָמְרָה לִי עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים פְּלוֹנִית אוֹ כּוֹכָב פְּלוֹנִי שֶׁמִּצְוָה לַעֲשׂוֹת כָּךְ וְכָךְ אוֹ שֶׁלֹּא לַעֲשׂוֹת, אֲפִלּוּ כִּוֵּן אֶת הַהֲלָכָה לְטַמֵּא אֶת הַטָּמֵא וּלְטַהֵר אֶת הַטָּהוֹר, אִם הִתְרוּ בּוֹ בִּפְנֵי שְׁנַיִם הֲרֵי זֶה נֶחְנָק שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים יח כ) "וַאֲשֶׁר יְדַבֵּר בְּשֵׁם אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים וּמֵת הַנָּבִיא הַהוּא". וְאַזְהָרָה שֶׁלּוֹ מִכְּלָל שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות כג יג) "וְשֵׁם אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים לֹא תַזְכִּירוּ":

What is meant by a prophet who prophesies in the name of idolatry ? He is one who asserts "This particular idol or particular star told me that it is a duty to do this and this or not to do it'. Even if his statement coincided with the law, so that he declared unclean that which is actually unclean and pronounced clean that which is clean, he is put to death by strangling, provided that he had been warned in the presence of two witnesses, as it is said, "or that shall speak in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die" (Deut. 18:20). The prohibition is implied in the text "And make no mention of the name of other gods" (Ex. 23:13).

Halacha 7ז׳

וְאָסוּר לַעֲרֹךְ דִּין וּתְשׁוּבָה עִם הַמִּתְנַבֵּא בְּשֵׁם עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים וְאֵין שׁוֹאֲלִין מִמֶּנּוּ אוֹת וּמוֹפֵת. וְאִם עָשָׂה מֵעַצְמוֹ אֵין מַשְׁגִּיחִין עָלָיו וְאֵין מְהַרְהֲרִין בּוֹ. וְכָל הַמְחַשֵּׁב בְּאוֹתוֹת שֶׁלּוֹ שֶׁמָּא אֱמֶת הֵן עוֹבֵר בְּלֹא תַּעֲשֶׂה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים יג ד) "לֹא תִשְׁמַע אֶל דִּבְרֵי הַנָּבִיא הַהוּא". וְכֵן נְבִיא הַשֶּׁקֶר מִיתָתוֹ בְּחֶנֶק אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁנִּתְנַבֵּא בְּשֵׁם ה' וְלֹא הוֹסִיף וְלֹא גָּרַע שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים יח כ) "אַךְ הַנָּבִיא אֲשֶׁר יָזִיד לְדַבֵּר דָּבָר בִּשְׁמִי אֵת אֲשֶׁר לֹא צִוִּיתִי" (דברים יח כ) "וּמֵת הַנָּבִיא הַהוּא":

It is forbidden to engage in a controversy with, or refutation of, one who prophesies in the name of idolatry. Nor is he asked for a sign or token. Should he, on his own initiative, perform such a sign, we pay no heed to it nor reflect upon it. Whoever gives consideration to such signs, (thinking) that possibly they are true, violates a prohibition, as it is said "Thou shalt not hearken to the words of that prophet" (Deut. 13:4). A false prophet is put to death by strangling, even though he prophesied in the name of the Lord, and neither added to, nor took aught away from His commandments, as it is said, "But the prophet that shall speak a word presumptuously in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die" (Deut. 18:20).

Halacha 8ח׳

אֶחָד הַמִּתְנַבֵּא מַה שֶּׁלֹּא שָׁמַע בְּמַרְאֵה הַנְּבוּאָה אוֹ מִי שֶׁשָּׁמַע דִּבְרֵי נָבִיא חֲבֵרוֹ וְאָמַר שֶׁדָּבָר זֶה לוֹ נֶאֱמַר וְהוּא נִתְנַבֵּא בּוֹ הֲרֵי זֶה נְבִיא שֶׁקֶר וּמִיתָתוֹ בְּחֶנֶק:

Whether one prophesies what he has not received in a prophetic vision, or, having heard the words of another prophet, declares that the message was directly communicated to himself—in either case, he is a false prophet and is put to death by strangling.

Halacha 9ט׳

כָּל הַמּוֹנֵעַ עַצְמוֹ מֵהֲרִיגַת נְבִיא הַשֶּׁקֶר מִפְּנֵי מַעֲלָתוֹ שֶׁהֲרֵי הוֹלֵךְ בְּדַרְכֵי הַנְּבוּאָה הֲרֵי זֶה עוֹבֵר בְּלֹא תַּעֲשֶׂה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים יח כב) "לֹא תָגוּר מִמֶּנּוּ". וְכֵן הַמּוֹנֵעַ עַצְמוֹ מִלְּלַמֵּד עָלָיו חוֹבָה אוֹ הַפּוֹחֵד וְיָרֵא מִדְּבָרָיו הֲרֵי הוּא בִּכְלַל לֹא תָגוּר מִמֶּנּוּ. וְאֵין דָּנִין נְבִיא הַשֶּׁקֶר אֶלָּא בְּבֵית דִּין שֶׁל שִׁבְעִים וְאֶחָד:

Whoever refrains from slaying a false prophet because of his high standing, his mode of life being consistent with the prophetic calling, violates a prohibition, as it is said, "the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously; thou shalt not be afraid of him" (Deut. 18:22). Likewise, whoever refrains from declaring grounds for his condemnation, or stands in fear and awe of his words, is included among those who transgress the prohibition "Thou shalt not be afraid of him" (Deut. 18.22). The false prophet may only be tried by the Court of seventy-one judges.

Halacha 10י׳

הַנּוֹדֵר בְּשֵׁם עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים וְהַנִּשְׁבָּע בָּהּ לוֹקֶה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות כג יג) "וְשֵׁם אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים לֹא תַזְכִּירוּ". אֶחָד הַנִּשְׁבָּע בָּהּ לְעַצְמוֹ וְאֶחָד הַנִּשְׁבָּע בָּהּ לְעוֹבֵד כּוֹכָבִים. וְאָסוּר לְהַשְׁבִּיעַ הָעוֹבֵד כּוֹכָבִים בְּיִרְאָתוֹ. אֲפִלּוּ לְהַזְכִּיר שֵׁם עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים שֶׁלֹּא דֶּרֶךְ שְׁבוּעָה אָסוּר שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר לֹא תַזְכִּירוּ:

He who makes a vow in the name of an idol or swears by it, is punished with stripes, as it is said, "And make no mention of the name of other gods" (Ex. 23:13); and this is so, irrespective of whether he swore by it for himself** Swearing in the name of an idol to do something. or for an idolater**** Swearing in its name to induce an idolater to do something.. It is also forbidden to cause an idolater to take an oath by his object of worship. The mention of the name of an idol, not by way of oath, is also forbidden, as it is said, "Make no mention" (Ex. 23:13).

Halacha 11י״א

לֹא יֹאמַר אָדָם לַחֲבֵרוֹ שְׁמֹר לִי בַּצַּד עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים פְּלוֹנִית וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָּהּ. וְכָל עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים הַכְּתוּבָה בְּכִתְבֵי הַקֹּדֶשׁ מֻתָּר לְהַזְכִּיר שְׁמָהּ כְּגוֹן פְּעוֹר וּבֵל וּנְבוֹ וְגָד וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָּהֶן. וְאָסוּר לִגְרֹם לַאֲחֵרִים שֶׁיִּדְּרוּ וְשֶׁיְּקַיְּמוּ בְּשֵׁם עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים. וְאֵינוֹ לוֹקֶה אֶלָּא הַנּוֹדֵר בִּשְׁמָהּ וְהַמְקַיֵּם בִּשְׁמָהּ וְהוּא הַנִּשְׁבָּע בִּשְׁמָהּ:

A person should not say to another "wait for me beside that idol", or give a similar direction. The names however of any idol mentioned in the Scriptures may be uttered, such as Peor, Bel, Nebo, Gad, etc. It is forbidden to give others an occasion to make vows or confirm them in the name of an idol. That person only is punished with stripes who himself makes or confirms a vow in the name of an idol, that is, swears by its name.