120. The Origin of Idolatry

Talmud Torah 7:12 (in some editions, 7:13)

When a ban is placed on someone in his presence, it should only be lifted in his presence. If it was placed not in his presence, it may be lifted in his presence or not in his presence. There is no minimum time for a ban; it may be issued and immediately lifted if the one under the ban corrects his behavior. On the other hand, a ban can be extended at the court’s discretion, even for many years, according to the offender’s wickedness. Similarly, the court may choose to excommunicate this person right away, or to excommunicate one who eats, drinks or stands within four cubits of this person. This power is done to create a disincentive to such behavior and to build a fence around the Torah so that it should not be violated.

Even though a Torah scholar may place someone under a ban for disparaging his honor, it is not considered praiseworthy for a scholar to do this. Rather, he should turn away from the words of the common people and pay them no heed. As Koheles 7:21 says, “Pay no attention to all the words that are spoken.” This was the practice of the pious people of earlier generations. They would hear words shaming them and not reply. Not only that, they would forgive the one who spoke against them. The Sages were proud of their pleasant deeds; they said that they never placed a ban or excommunicated anyone because of a slight to their honor. This practice of scholars is worthy of emulation. This only applies when someone disparages a scholar in private. If one disparages or embarrasses a scholar in public, the scholar is not permitted to waive his honor. In fact, if he does, he is punished because it is disrespectful to the Torah. In such a case, he should retain the matter until the offender asks for forgiveness. At that point, the scholar should forgive him.

Avodas Kochavim 1:1

Mankind made a grave mistake in the days of Enosh (grandson of Adam). The people knew that God created the stars and the heavenly bodies that regulate the world. God placed these spheres on high and accorded them honor, making them servants to minister before Him. They therefore decided that it would be appropriate to praise and extol the stars and planets as His emissaries. They acted under the assumption that this would be in accordance with God’s will, since a human king desires that his servants be honored. They therefore built temples to the stars and offered sacrifices to them. They would praise them with words and bow down before them, mistakenly thinking that this would honor and please God. The earliest idolators saw the objects of their worship as God’s ministers; they didn’t think that the sun (for example) was a god or God.

The prophet Jeremiah addressed this in the book that bears his name. Jeremiah 10:7-8 states, “Who would not fear You, King of the nations? For You it is fitting. Among all the wise men of the nations and all their royalty, there is no one like You. They are foolish and senseless, informed by teachings as empty as wood.” This means that everyone knows that God alone is God. Their error consists of thinking that this empty idea reflects His will.