132. The City Condemned for Idolatry

Avodas Kochavim 3:11

The case of a signet ring that bears a human image is as follows: If the image protrudes, one may not wear it but he may use it as a seal. If the image is concave, he may wear it but he may not use it as a seal because doing so will create a protruding image.

Similarly, it is prohibited to make an image of the sun, moon, stars, constellations, or angels as per Exodus 20:19, “Do not make with Me…” meaning “do not make images of My servants, who serve before Me on high.” This applies even to two-dimensional representations. Images of animals and other creatures aside from man may be made, as well as images of trees and other plants. These may be made even in three-dimensional representation.

Avodas Kochavim 4:1

People who lead the residents of a Jewish city into idolatry are executed by stoning. This is true even if they did not themselves worship an idol, but merely persuaded others to do so. The residents of the city that turned to idolatry are executed by beheading if they worshipped an idol or accepted it as a deity. The prohibition against enticing others to idolatry is Exodus 23:13, “Let (their names) not be heard from your mouth.”