148. Prostrating on a Stone

Avodas Kochavim 6:5

The prohibition against handing one’s children over to the service of Molech includes legitimate and illegitimate children, sons and daughters, children and grandchildren. One would be liable for handing over any descendant, because they are all his “seed” (the term used in Leviticus 20:2). On the other hand, if one passed a sibling or an ancestor through fire, or if he caused himself to be passed through fire, he would not be liable. If he passes one of his descendants through fire while he (the father) is asleep, or if he is blind, then he is not liable.

Avodas Kochavim 6:6

The Torah prohibits erecting a monument around which people gather, even for the service of God, because it is an idolatrous practice. Deuteronomy 16:22, “Do not erect a monument that God hates.” Whoever erects such a monument is liable to the penalty of lashes. Similarly, one would receive lashes for bowing down on a kneeling-stone, even if he is bowing down to God, as per Leviticus 26:1, “Do not place a kneeling-stone in your land to bow down upon.” The idolators would place a stone before their idols so that they could bow down on it. Therefore, this practice is not acceptable in our worship of God. One would only be liable to lashes if he spread out his hands and feet on the stone, prostrating on it entirely. This is the Torah’s definition of “bowing.”