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Deuteronomy 9:21 - Destroying idolatry's remnants completely

Deuteronomy 9:21 - דברים 9:21

Hebrew Text

וְאֶת־חַטַּאתְכֶם אֲשֶׁר־עֲשִׂיתֶם אֶת־הָעֵגֶל לָקַחְתִּי וָאֶשְׂרֹף אֹתוֹ בָּאֵשׁ וָאֶכֹּת אֹתוֹ טָחוֹן הֵיטֵב עַד אֲשֶׁר־דַּק לְעָפָר וָאַשְׁלִךְ אֶת־עֲפָרוֹ אֶל־הַנַּחַל הַיֹּרֵד מִן־הָהָר׃

English Translation

And I took your sin, the calf which you had made, and burnt it with fire, and stamped it, and ground it very small, until it was as fine as dust: and I cast the dust of it into the stream that descended out of the mountain.

Transliteration

Ve'et-chatatkhem asher-asitem et-ha'egel lakachti va'esrof oto ba'esh va'ekot oto tachon heitev ad asher-dak le'afar va'ashlich et-afaro el-hanachal hayored min-hahar.

Hebrew Leining Text

וְֽאֶת־חַטַּאתְכֶ֞ם אֲשֶׁר־עֲשִׂיתֶ֣ם אֶת־הָעֵ֗גֶל לָקַ֘חְתִּי֮ וָאֶשְׂרֹ֣ף אֹת֣וֹ <small>׀</small> בָּאֵשׁ֒ וָאֶכֹּ֨ת אֹת֤וֹ טָחוֹן֙ הֵיטֵ֔ב עַ֥ד אֲשֶׁר־דַּ֖ק לְעָפָ֑ר וָֽאַשְׁלִךְ֙ אֶת־עֲפָר֔וֹ אֶל־הַנַּ֖חַל הַיֹּרֵ֥ד מִן־הָהָֽר׃
וְֽאֶת־חַטַּאתְכֶ֞ם אֲשֶׁר־עֲשִׂיתֶ֣ם אֶת־הָעֵ֗גֶל לָקַ֘חְתִּי֮ וָאֶשְׂרֹ֣ף אֹת֣וֹ ׀ בָּאֵשׁ֒ וָאֶכֹּ֨ת אֹת֤וֹ טָחוֹן֙ הֵיטֵ֔ב עַ֥ד אֲשֶׁר־דַּ֖ק לְעָפָ֑ר וָֽאַשְׁלִךְ֙ אֶת־עֲפָר֔וֹ אֶל־הַנַּ֖חַל הַיֹּרֵ֥ד מִן־הָהָֽר׃

🎵 Listen to leining

Parasha Commentary

Context of the Verse

This verse (Devarim 9:21) recounts Moshe Rabbeinu's actions in response to the sin of the Golden Calf (עֵגֶל הַזָּהָב). After descending from Har Sinai and witnessing Bnei Yisrael's idolatry, Moshe destroyed the calf and purified the people. The detailed description of its destruction emphasizes the severity of the sin and the thoroughness of its eradication.

Rashi's Explanation

Rashi (Devarim 9:21) explains that Moshe's actions were methodical to ensure no remnant of the calf remained. Burning, grinding, and scattering the dust into the stream demonstrated that the idol was completely nullified. The phrase "וָאֶכֹּת אֹתוֹ טָחוֹן הֵיטֵב" ("and ground it very small") underscores that the calf was reduced to irrecoverable particles, preventing any future misuse.

Rambam's Perspective

Rambam (Hilchos Avodah Zarah 3:2) cites this verse as a halachic precedent for the obligation to destroy idols and their accessories entirely. The thorough destruction—burning, grinding, and casting the dust into water—serves as a model for eradicating all forms of avodah zarah (idolatry) from the Jewish people.

Midrashic Insights

  • Midrash Tanchuma (Ki Sisa 26) highlights that the stream flowing from Har Sinai symbolized purification, as the mountain was the source of Torah. By casting the dust there, Moshe demonstrated that Torah is the antidote to idolatry.
  • Yalkut Shimoni (Devarim 9:21) adds that the calf's destruction mirrored the fate of the Erev Rav (mixed multitude), who instigated the sin. Their influence was likewise "ground to dust" and removed from Klal Yisrael.

Symbolism of the Actions

The step-by-step annihilation of the calf carries deeper meaning:

  • Burning: Fire represents divine judgment (as in Sodom) and the purging of impurity.
  • Grinding: Reducing the calf to dust parallels the humiliation of idolatry, as dust is trampled underfoot (Malachi 3:21).
  • Casting into the stream: Water, a metaphor for Torah (Yeshayahu 55:1), dissolves the last traces of sin, reinforcing that Torah study protects against future lapses.

Halachic Implications

The Gemara (Avodah Zarah 44a) derives from this verse that items used for idolatry must be destroyed beyond recognition. The Shulchan Aruch (Yoreh De'ah 146:14) codifies this, ruling that even the dust of an idol is forbidden if it retains any form of benefit, hence Moshe's extreme measures.

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is quoted in the Talmud.

📖 Avodah Zarah 44a
The verse is referenced in the discussion about the prohibition of idolatry and the destruction of the golden calf, illustrating how idolatrous objects must be completely obliterated.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What does it mean that Moshe burned and ground the golden calf into dust?
A: According to Rashi (Devarim 9:21), Moshe completely destroyed the golden calf to show that it had no power or divinity. By burning it, grinding it into fine dust, and scattering it in water, he demonstrated that it was merely physical matter with no spiritual significance. This was a lesson to the Jewish people about the futility of idol worship.
Q: Why did Moshe throw the dust of the golden calf into the stream?
A: The Midrash (Tanchuma Ki Sisa 26) explains that Moshe wanted to ensure no trace of the golden calf remained. By casting the dust into a flowing stream, it would be carried away and could never be retrieved or worshipped again. This teaches us the importance of completely removing any connection to idolatry or spiritual impurities.
Q: What lesson can we learn from how Moshe handled the golden calf?
A: The Rambam (Hilchos Avodah Zarah 7:2) derives from this verse that we must utterly destroy objects of idolatry. Just as Moshe left no remnant of the golden calf, we learn that when removing negative influences from our lives, we must do so completely without leaving any trace that could lead us back to wrongdoing.
Q: Why does the Torah emphasize that the calf was ground 'very small'?
A: The Talmud (Avodah Zarah 44a) explains that grinding the calf into the finest dust symbolizes how we must completely nullify any connection to sin. Just as the particles became unrecognizable, we must make our past mistakes unrecognizable in our lives by fully repenting and transforming our ways.
Q: What mountain is referred to in the verse when it mentions 'the stream that descended out of the mountain'?
A: Rashi (Devarim 9:21) identifies this as Mount Sinai. The choice to dispose of the calf's remains in water flowing from Sinai is significant - it contrasts the holiness of Sinai where the Torah was given with the impurity of the golden calf. This teaches that Torah study is the antidote to idolatrous tendencies.