Mishneh Torah, Foreign Worship and Customs of the Nations 1

Hook

Ever wonder how humanity, so soon after creation, "forgot" God? The Rambam reveals it wasn't a sudden amnesia, but a profound, almost logical, misstep that began with "wise men."

Context

The Rambam’s historical account here isn't merely an ancient anecdote. It lays the groundwork for understanding the severity of idolatry. As the Seder Mishnah commentary points out, this entire chapter serves to explain Hilchot Yesodei HaTorah 1:7, which prohibits even entertaining thoughts of idolatry – to know which thoughts are forbidden, we must first understand their origins.

Text Snapshot

"Their mistake was as follows: They said God created stars and spheres... He placed them on high and treated them with honor, making them servants who minister before Him. Accordingly, it is fitting to praise and glorify them and to treat them with honor. [They perceived] this to be the will of God, blessed be He, that they magnify and honor those whom He magnified and honored, just as a king desires that the servants who stand before him be honored. Indeed, doing so is an expression of honor to the king." (Mishneh Torah, Foreign Worship 1:1)

Close Reading

Structure: A Gradual Descent

The Rambam meticulously charts a gradual descent into full-blown idolatry. It starts with a seemingly pious intention – to honor God's "servants" – before escalating through false prophets, image-making, and eventually, the complete forgetting of God's name.

Key Term: "Great Mistake" (טעות גדול)

The initial error is termed a "great mistake" and attributed to "the wise men of that generation gave thoughtless counsel" (נבערה עצת חכמי אותו הדור). This highlights that the root of idolatry wasn't ignorance, but a sophisticated, albeit flawed, theological reasoning. They weren't denying God; they were misinterpreting His will.

Tension: Honor vs. Usurpation

The core tension lies in the fine line between honoring God's creations as reflections of His glory and elevating them to a status that detracts from, or even usurps, the honor due solely to the Creator. They thought they were honoring the King by honoring His servants, but ultimately, they lost sight of the King Himself.

Two Angles

The Tzafnat Pa'neach commentary on this passage offers a powerful halakhic lens, comparing the act of honoring celestial bodies to "rebellion against the kingdom" (מורד במלכות). Just as one who honors another in the king's presence is a rebel, so too, honoring God's "servants" in a way that implies their independent power is a rebellion. This contrasts with a purely philosophical reading that might see it merely as a logical error. The Tzafnat Pa'neach grounds the "mistake" in a tangible breach of loyalty, emphasizing the exclusivity of divine worship, even if the intention was initially to honor God.

Practice Implication

This passage challenges us to constantly evaluate our own spiritual practices: are we directing our honor and devotion solely to the Creator, or are we inadvertently elevating intermediaries (e.g., revered leaders, specific rituals, or even material successes) to a point where they obscure the ultimate Source of blessing and power?

Chevruta Mini

1. How can a genuine desire to "magnify and honor" God's creations (like leaders or spiritual paths) subtly lead to diminishing the Creator's unique role?
2. What safeguards can we put in place to ensure our appreciation for spiritual intermediaries or material blessings doesn't cross into "rebellion against the kingdom"?

Takeaway

The path to idolatry begins not with rejection, but with a misguided attempt to honor God's creations, ultimately leading to the forgetting of the Creator.

Sefaria URL: Mishneh Torah, Foreign Worship and Customs of the Nations 1