The Laws of The Worship of Stars and their Statutesהִלְכוֹת עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים וְחוּקוֹתֵיהֶם
They contain 51 mitzvot: 2 positive commandments and 49 negative commandments. They are:יֵשׁ בִּכְלָלָן חֲמִשִּׁים וְאַחַת מִצְווֹת, שְׁתֵּי מִצְווֹת עֲשֵׂה, וְאַרְבָּעִים וְתֵשַׁע מִצְווֹת לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה. וְזֶהוּ פְרָטָן:
1. Not to show interest in the worship of false gods.(א) שֶׁלֹּא לִפְנוֹת אַחַר עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים.
2. Not to stray after the thoughts of one’s heart or the sights one’s eyes behold.(ב) שֶׁלֹּא לָתוּר אַחַר הִרְהוּר הַלֵּב וּרְאִיַּת הָעֵינַיִם.
3. Not to curse God.(ג) שֶׁלֹּא לְגַדֵּף.

Mishneh Torah (Moznaim)

Featuring a modern English translation and a commentary that presents a digest of the centuries of Torah scholarship which have been devoted to the study of the Mishneh Torah by Maimonides.

4. Not to worship false gods with the types of service with which they are customarily served.(ד) שֶׁלֹּא יַעֲבֹד אוֹתָהּ כְּדֶרֶךְ עֲבוֹדָתָהּ.
5. Not to bow down to false gods.(ה) שֶׁלֹּא יִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה לָהּ.
6. Not to make an idol for oneself.(ו) שֶׁלֹּא לַעֲשׂוֹת פֶּסֶל לְעַצְמוֹ.
7. Not to make an idol even for others.(ז) שֶׁלֹּא לַעֲשׂוֹת פֶּסֶל אֲפִלּוּ לַאֲחֵרִים.
8. Not to make images even for decoration.(ח) שֶׁלֹּא לַעֲשׂוֹת צוּרוֹת אֲפִלּוּ לְנוֹי.
9. Not to persuade others to worship false gods.(ט) שֶׁלֹּא לְהַדִּיחַ אֲחֵרִים אַחֲרֶיהָ.
10. To burn an apostate city.(י) לִשְׂרֹף עִיר הַנִּדַּחַת.
11. Never to rebuild it.(יא) שֶׁלֹּא לִבְנוֹתָהּ.
12. Not to derive benefit from any of its property.(יב) שֶׁלֹּא לֵהָנוֹת מִכָּל מָמוֹנָהּ.
13. Not to persuade a single individual to worship false gods.(יג) שֶׁלֹּא לְהָסִית יָחִיד לַעֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים לְעָבְדָהּ.
14. Not to love a mesit.(יד) שֶׁלֹּא לֶאֱהֹב הַמֵּסִית.
15. Not to reduce one’s hatred for him.(טו) שֶׁלֹּא לַעֲזֹב שִׂנְאָתוֹ.
16. Not to save his life.(טז) שֶׁלֹּא לְהַצִּילוֹ.
17. Not to advance any arguments on his behalf.(יז) שֶׁלֹּא לְלַמֵּד עָלָיו זְכוּת.
18. Not to withhold information that will lead to his conviction.(יח) שֶׁלֹּא יִמָּנַע מִלְּלַמֵּד עָלָיו חוֹבָה.
19. Not to prophesy in the name of false gods.(יט) שֶׁלֹּא לְהִתְנַבֵּא בִשְׁמָהּ.
20. Not to listen to anyone who prophesies in the name of false gods.(כ) שֶׁלֹּא לִשְׁמֹעַ מִן הַמִּתְנַבֵּא בִשְׁמָהּ.
21. Not to give false prophecy even in the name of God.(כא) שֶׁלֹּא לְהִתְנַבֵּא בַשֶּׁקֶר וַאֲפִלּוּ בְּשֵׁם הַשֵּׁם.
22. Not to fear executing a false prophet.(כב) שֶׁלֹּא לָגוּר מֵהֲרִיגַת נְבִיא שֶׁקֶר.
23. Not to swear in the name of a false god.(כג) שֶׁלֹּא לִשָּׁבַע בְּשֵׁם עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים.
24. Not to perform the deeds associated with an ov.(כד) שֶׁלֹּא לַעֲשׂוֹת אוֹב.
25. Not to perform the deeds associated with a yid’oni.(כה) שֶׁלֹּא לַעֲשׂוֹת יִדְּעוֹנִי.
26. Not to offer to Molech.(כו) שֶׁלֹּא לְהַעֲבִיר לַמֹּלֶךְ.
27. Not to erect a pillar for purposes of worship.(כז) שֶׁלֹּא לְהָקִים מַצֵּבָה.
28. Not to prostrate oneself on hewn stones.(כח) שֶׁלֹּא לְהִשְׁתַּחֲווֹת עַל אֶבֶן מַשְׂכִּית.
29. Not to plant an asherah.(כט) שֶׁלֹּא לִטַּע אֲשֵׁרָה.
30. To destroy false gods and all their objects of worship.(ל) לְאַבֵּד עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים וְכָל הַנַּעֲשֶׂה בִּשְׁבִילָהּ.
31. Not to benefit from false gods and all their objects of worship.(לא) שֶׁלֹּא לֵהָנוֹת בַּעֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים וּבְכָל מְשַׁמְּשֶׁיהָ.
32. Not to benefit from ornaments that have adorned false gods.(לב) שֶׁלֹּא לֵהָנוֹת בְּצִפּוּי נֶעֱבָד.
33. Not to establish a covenant with nations who worship false gods.(לג) שֶׁלֹּא לִכְרֹת בְּרִית לְעוֹבְדֵי כוֹכָבִים.
34. Not to show them favor.(לד) שֶׁלֹּא לָחֹן עֲלֵיהֶן.
35. Not to allow them to settle in our land.(לה) שֶׁלֹּא יֵשְׁבוּ בְּאַרְצֵנוּ.
36. Not to follow their customs or manner of dress.(לו) שֶׁלֹּא לְהִדַּמּוֹת בְּמִנְהֲגוֹתָם וּבְמַלְבּוּשָׁם.
37. Not to act as a soothsayer.(לז) שֶׁלֹּא לְנַחֵשׁ.
38. Not to practice black magic.(לח) שֶׁלֹּא לִקְסֹם.
39. Not to practice divination.(לט) שֶׁלֹּא לְעוֹנֵן.
40. Not to cast spells.(מ) שֶׁלֹּא לַחְבֹּר חֶבֶר.
41. Not to seek information from the dead.(מא) שֶׁלֹּא לִדְרֹשׁ אֶל הַמֵּתִים.
42. Not to consult an ov.(מב) שֶׁלֹּא לִשְׁאֹל בְּאוֹב.
43. Not to consult a yid’oni.(מג) שֶׁלֹּא לִשְׁאֹל בְּיִדְּעוֹנִי.
44. Not to practice sorcery.(מד) שֶׁלֹּא לְכַשֵׁף.
45. Not to shave the temples of our heads.(מה) שֶׁלֹּא לְהַקִּיף פְּאַת רֹאשׁ.
46. Not to shave off the corners of our beards.(מו) שֶׁלֹּא לְהַשְׁחִית פְּאַת זָקָן.
47. For a man not to wear a woman’s apparel.(מז) שֶׁלֹּא יַעְדֶּה אִישׁ עֲדִי אִשָּׁה.
48. For a woman not to wear armament or a man’s apparel.(מח) שֶׁלֹּא תַעְדֶּה אִשָּׁה כְּלֵי זַיִן עֲדִי אִישׁ.
49. Not to tattoo one’s body.(מט) שֶׁלֹּא לִכְתֹּב קַעְקַע.
50. Not to make cuts in one’s flesh.(נ) שֶׁלֹּא לְהִתְגּוֹדֵד.
51. Not to tear out hair in mourning for the dead.(נא) שֶׁלֹּא לַעֲשׂוֹת קָרְחָה עַל מֵת.
The explanation of all these mitzvot is contained within the chapters which follow.וּבֵאוּר כָּל הַמִּצְווֹת הָאֵלּוּ בִּפְרָקִים אֵלּוּ.
1. During the times of Enosh,1 mankind made a great mistake, and the wise men of that generation gave thoughtless counsel.2 Enosh himself was one of those who erred.3 Their mistake was as follows:אבִּימֵי אֱנוֹשׁ טָעוּ בְנֵי הָאָדָם טָעוּת גָּדוֹל וְנִבְעֲרָה עֲצַת חַכְמֵי אוֹתוֹ הַדּוֹר; וֶאֱנוֹשׁ עַצְמוֹ מִן הַטּוֹעִים הָיָה. וְזוֹ הָיְתָה טָעוּתָם:
They said God created stars and spheres4 with which to control the world. He placed them on high and treated them with honor, making them servants who minister before Him.5 Accordingly, it is fitting to praise and glorify them and to treat them with honor.6 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.7אָמְרוּ: הוֹאִיל וְהָאֱלֹהִים בָּרָא כּוֹכָבִים אֵלּוּ וְגַלְגַּלִּים לְהַנְהִיג אֶת הָעוֹלָם, וּנְתָנָם בַּמָּרוֹם וְחָלַק לָהֶם כָּבוֹד, וְהֵם שַׁמָּשִׁים הַמְשַׁמְּשִׁים לְפָנָיו - רְאוּיִין הֵם לְשַׁבְּחָם וּלְפָאֲרָם וְלַחֲלֹק לָהֶם כָּבוֹד. וְזֶהוּ רְצוֹן הָאֵל בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְגַדֵּל וּלְכַבֵּד מִי שֶׁגִּדְּלוֹ וְכִבְּדוֹ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁהַמֶּלֶךְ רוֹצֶה לְכַבֵּד עֲבָדָיו הָעוֹמְדִים לְפָנָיו - וְזֶהוּ כְבוֹדוֹ שֶׁל מֶלֶךְ,
After conceiving of this notion, they began to construct temples to the stars8 and offer sacrifices to them. They would praise and glorify them with words, and prostrate themselves before them, because by doing so, they would — according to their false conception9 — be fulfilling the will of God.10כֵּיוָן שֶׁעָלָה דָּבָר זֶה עַל לִבָּם הִתְחִילוּ לִבְנוֹת לַכּוֹכָבִים הֵיכָלוֹת וּלְהַקְרִיב לָהֶן קָרְבָּנוֹת וּלְשַׁבְּחָם וּלְפָאֲרָם בִּדְבָרִים וּלְהִשְׁתַּחֲווֹת לְמוּלָם - כְּדֵי לְהַשִּׂיג רְצוֹן הַבּוֹרֵא בְּדַעְתָּם הָרָעָה.
This was the essence of the worship of false gods,11 and this was the rationale of those who worshiped them. They would not say that there is no other god except for this star.12 This message was conveyed by Jeremiah, who declared (10:7-8):13 “Who will not fear You, King of the nations, for to You it is fitting. Among all the wise men of the nations and in all their kingdoms, there is none like You. They have one foolish and senseless notion. They conceive of their empty teachings as wood;”14 i.e., all know that You alone are God. Their foolish error consists of conceiving of this emptiness15 as Your will.16וְזֶה הָיָה עִקַּר עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים, וְכָךְ הָיוּ אוֹמְרִים עוֹבְדֶיהָ הַיּוֹדְעִים עִקָּרָהּ; לֹא שֶׁהֵן אוֹמְרִים שֶׁאֵין שָׁם אֱלוֹהַּ אֶלָּא כּוֹכָב זֶה. הוּא שֶׁיִּרְמְיָהוּ אוֹמֵר: "מִי לֹא יִרָאֲךָ מֶלֶךְ הַגּוֹיִם כִּי לְךָ יָאָתָה; כִּי בְכָל חַכְמֵי הַגּוֹיִם וּבְכָל מַלְכוּתָם מֵאֵין כָּמוֹךָ; וּבְאַחַת יִבְעֲרוּ וְיִכְסָלוּ: מוּסַר הֲבָלִים עֵץ הוּא", כְּלוֹמַר: הַכֹּל יוֹדְעִים שָׁאַתָּה הוּא לְבַדֶּךָ, אֲבָל טָעוּתָם וּכְסִילוּתָם - שֶׁמְּדַמִּים שֶׁזֶּה הַהֶבֶל רְצוֹנְךָ הוּא.
2. After many years passed, there arose people — false prophets17 — who told the people that God had commanded them to say:18 Serve this star — or all the stars — sacrifice to it, offer libations to it, build a temple for it and make an image of it so that all people — including the women, the children, and the common people — could bow to it.19 He would inform them of a form that he had conceived, and tell them that this is the image of the particular star, claiming that this was revealed to him in a prophetic vision.20בוְאַחַר שֶׁאָרְכוּ הַיָּמִים - עָמְדוּ בִּבְנֵי הָאָדָם נְבִיאֵי שֶׁקֶר וְאָמְרוּ, שֶׁהָאֵל צִוָּה וְאָמַר לָהֶם: עִבְדוּ כּוֹכָב פְּלוֹנִי אוֹ כָל הַכּוֹכָבִים. וְהַקְרִיבוּ לוֹ וְנַסְּכוּ לוֹ כָּךְ וְכָךְ וּבְנוּ לוֹ הֵיכָל וַעֲשׂוּ צוּרָתוֹ כְּדֵי לְהִשְׁתַּחֲווֹת לוֹ כָּל הָעָם: הַנָּשִׁים וְהַקְּטַנִּים וּשְׁאָר עַמֵּי הָאָרֶץ! וּמוֹדִיעַ לָהֶם צוּרָה שֶׁבָּדָה מִלִּבּוֹ וְאוֹמֵר: זוֹ הִיא צוּרַת הַכּוֹכָב הַפְּלוֹנִי שֶׁהוֹדִיעוּהוּ בִּנְבוּאָתוֹ.
In this manner, the people began to make images in temples, under trees, and on the tops of mountains and hills.21 People would gather together and bow down to them and the false prophets would say: This image is the source of benefit or harm. It is appropriate to serve it and fear it. Their priests would tell them: This service will enable you to multiply and be successful. Do this and this, or do not do this or this.22 Subsequently, other deceivers arose and declared that a specific star, sphere, or angel had spoken to them and commanded them: Serve me in this manner. He would then relate a mode of service telling them: Do this, do not do this.23וְהִתְחִילוּ עַל דֶּרֶךְ זוֹ לַעֲשׂוֹת צוּרוֹת בַּהֵיכָלוֹת וְתַחַת הָאִילָנוֹת וּבְרָאשֵׁי הֶהָרִים וְעַל הַגְּבָעוֹת; וּמִתְקַבְּצִין וּמִשְׁתַּחֲוִים לָהֶם וְאוֹמְרִים לְכָל הָעָם שֶׁזּוֹ הַצּוּרָה מְטִיבָה וּמְרֵעָה וְרָאוּי לְעָבְדָהּ וּלְיִרְאָה מִמֶּנָּה. וְכֹהֲנֵיהֶם אוֹמְרִים לָהֶם: שֶׁבַּעֲבוֹדָה זוֹ תִּרְבּוּ וְתַצְלִיחוּ; וַעֲשׂוּ כָךְ וְכָךְ וְאַל תַּעֲשׂוּ כָךְ וְכָךְ! וְהִתְחִילוּ כּוֹזְבִים אֲחֵרִים לַעֲמֹד וְלוֹמַר - שֶׁהַכּוֹכָב עַצְמוֹ אוֹ הַגַּלְגַּל אוֹ הַמַּלְאָךְ דִּבֶּר עִמָּהֶם וְאָמַר לָהֶם: עִבְדוּנִי בְּכָךְ וְכָךְ, וְהוֹדִיעַ לָהֶם דֶּרֶךְ עֲבוֹדָתוֹ וַעֲשׂוּ כָךְ וְאַל תַּעֲשׂוּ כָךְ!
Thus, these practices spread throughout the world. People would serve images with strange practices — one more distorted than the other24 — offer sacrifices to them, and bow down to them. As the years passed, God’s glorious and awesome name was forgotten by the entire population. It was no longer part of their speech or thought, and they no longer knew Him.25 Thus, all the common people, the women, and the children would know26 only the image of wood or stone and the temples of stone to which they were trained from their childhood to bow down and serve, and in whose name they swore.27וּפָשַׁט דָּבָר זֶה בְּכָל הָעוֹלָם - לַעֲבֹד אֶת הַצּוּרוֹת בַּעֲבוֹדוֹת מְשֻׁנּוֹת זוֹ מִזּוֹ וּלְהַקְרִיב לָהֶם וּלְהִשְׁתַּחֲווֹת. וְכֵיוָן שֶׁאָרְכוּ הַיָּמִים נִשְׁתַּכַּח הַשֵּׁם הַנִּכְבָּד וְהַנּוֹרָא מִפִּי כָּל הַיְּקוּם וּמִדַּעְתָּם, וְלֹא הִכִּירוּהוּ. וְנִמְצְאוּ כָל עַם הָאָרֶץ הַנָּשִׁים וְהַקְּטַנִּים אֵינָם יוֹדְעִים אֶלָּא הַצּוּרָה שֶׁל עֵץ וְשֶׁל אֶבֶן וְהַהֵיכָל שֶׁל אֲבָנִים שֶׁנִּתְחַנְּכוּ מִקַּטְנוּתָם לְהִשְׁתַּחֲווֹת לָהּ וּלְעָבְדָהּ וּלְהִשָּׁבַע בִּשְׁמָהּ.
The wise men among them would think that there is no God other than the stars and spheres for whose sake, and in resemblance of which, they had made these images. The Eternal Rock28 was not recognized or known by anyone in the world, with the exception of a few individuals: for example,29 Chanoch,30 Metushelach,31 Noach,32 Shem,33 and Ever.34 The world continued in this fashion until the pillar of the world — the Patriarch Abraham — was born.35וְהַחֲכָמִים שֶׁהָיוּ בָהֶם, כְּגוֹן: כֹּהֲנֵיהֶם וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָהֶן מְדַמִּין שֶׁאֵין שָׁם אֱלוֹהַּ אֶלָּא הַכּוֹכָבִים וְהַגַּלְגַּלִּים שֶׁנַּעֲשׂוּ הַצּוּרוֹת הָאֵלּוּ בִּגְלָלָם וְלִדְמוּתָן. אֲבָל צוּר הָעוֹלָמִים לֹא הָיָה שׁוּם אָדָם שֶׁהָיָה מַכִּירוֹ, וְלֹא יוֹדְעוֹ אֶלָּא יְחִידִים בָּעוֹלָם, כְּגוֹן: חֲנוֹךְ וּמְתוּשֶׁלַח נֹחַ שֵׁם וָעֵבֶר. וְעַל דֶּרֶךְ זֶה הָיָה הָעוֹלָם הוֹלֵךְ וּמִתְגַּלְגֵּל עַד שֶׁנּוֹלַד עַמּוּדוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם - וְהוּא אַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ.
3. After this mighty man36 was weaned,37 he began to explore and think. Though he was a child, he began to think incessantly throughout the day and night, wondering: How is it possible for the sphere to continue to revolve without having anyone controlling it?38 Who is causing it to revolve? Surely, it does not cause itself to revolve.39 He had no teacher, nor was there anyone to inform him.40 Rather, he was mired in Ur Kasdim among the foolish idolaters. His father, mother, and all the people around him were idol worshipers,41 and he would worship with them.42גכֵּיוָן שֶׁנִּגְמַל אֵיתָן זֶה הִתְחִיל לְשׁוֹטֵט בְּדַעְתּוֹ - וְהוּא קָטָן - וְהִתְחִיל לַחֲשֹׁב בַּיּוֹם וּבַלַּיְלָה וְהָיָה תָמֵהַּ הֵיאַךְ אֶפְשָׁר שֶׁיִּהְיֶה הַגַּלְגַּל הַזֶּה נוֹהֵג תָּמִיד וְלֹא יִהְיֶה לוֹ מַנְהִיג וּמִי יְסַבֵּב אוֹתוֹ? כִּי אִי אֶפְשָׁר שֶׁיְּסַבֵּב אֶת עַצְמוֹ! וְלֹא הָיָה לוֹ מְלַמֵּד וְלֹא מוֹדִיעַ דָּבָר אֶלָּא מֻשְׁקָע בְּאוּר כַּשְׂדִּים בֵּין עוֹבְדֵי כוֹכָבִים הַטִּפְּשִׁים; וְאָבִיו וְאִמּוֹ וְכָל הָעָם עוֹבְדֵי כוֹכָבִים וְהוּא עוֹבֵד עִמָּהֶם.
However, his heart was exploring and gaining understanding. Ultimately, he appreciated the way of truth and understood the path of righteousness through his accurate comprehension. He realized that there was one God who controlled the sphere, that He created everything, and that there is no other God among all the other entities.43 He knew that the entire world was making a mistake. What caused them to err was their service of the stars and images, which made them lose awareness of the truth.44 Abraham was forty years old when he became aware of his Creator.45וְלִבּוֹ מְשׁוֹטֵט וּמֵבִין - עַד שֶׁהִשִּׂיג דֶּרֶךְ הָאֱמֶת וְהֵבִין קַו הַצֶּדֶק מִתְּבוּנָתוֹ הַנְּכוֹנָה, וְיָדַע שֶׁיֵּשׁ שָׁם אֱלוֹהַּ אֶחָד וְהוּא מַנְהִיג הַגַּלְגַּל, וְהוּא בָּרָא הַכֹּל וְאֵין בְּכָל הַנִּמְצָא אֱלוֹהַּ חוּץ מִמֶּנּוּ. וְיָדַע שֶׁכָּל הָעוֹלָם טוֹעִים, וְדָבָר שֶׁגָּרַם לָהֶם לְטָעוּת זֶה שֶׁעוֹבְדִים אֶת הַכּוֹכָבִים וְאֶת הַצּוּרוֹת עַד שֶׁאָבַד הָאֱמֶת מִדַּעְתָּם, וּבֶן אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה הִכִּיר אַבְרָהָם אֶת בּוֹרְאוֹ.
When he recognized and knew Him,46 he began to formulate replies to the inhabitants of Ur Kasdim and debate with them, telling them that they were not following a proper path. He broke their idols and began to teach the people that it is fitting to serve only the God of the world.47 To Him alone is it fitting to bow down, sacrifice, and offer libations, so that the people of future generations would recognize Him.48 Conversely, it is fitting to destroy and break all the images, lest all the people err concerning them, like those people who thought that there are no other gods besides these images.כֵּיוָן שֶׁהִכִּיר וְיָדַע, הִתְחִיל לְהָשִׁיב תְּשׁוּבוֹת עַל בְּנֵי אוּר כַּשְׂדִּים וְלַעֲרֹךְ דִּין עִמָּהֶם וְלוֹמַר שֶׁאֵין זוֹ דֶּרֶךְ הָאֱמֶת שֶׁאַתֶּם הוֹלְכִים בָּהּ; וְשִׁבֵּר הַצְּלָמִים וְהִתְחִיל לְהוֹדִיעַ לָעָם שֶׁאֵין רָאוּי לַעֲבֹד אֶלָּא לֶאֱלוֹהַּ הָעוֹלָם - וְלוֹ רָאוּי לְהִשְׁתַּחֲווֹת וּלְהַקְרִיב וּלְנַסֵּךְ, כְּדֵי שֶׁיַּכִּירוּהוּ כָּל הַבְּרוּאִים הַבָּאִים. וְרָאוּי לְאַבֵּד וּלְשַׁבֵּר כָּל הַצּוּרוֹת כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יִטְעוּ בָהֶן כָּל הָעָם כְּמוֹ אֵלּוּ שֶׁהֵם מְדַמִּים שֶׁאֵין שָׁם אֱלוֹהַּ אֶלָּא אֵלּוּ.
When he overcame them through the strength of his arguments, the king49 desired to kill him.50 He was saved through a miracle51 and left for Charan.52כֵּיוָן שֶׁגָּבַר עֲלֵיהֶם בִּרְאָיוֹתָיו, בִּקֵּשׁ הַמֶּלֶךְ לְהָרְגוֹ - וְנַעֲשָׂה לוֹ נֵס וְיָצָא לְחָרָן.
There, he began to call in a loud voice to all people and inform them that there is one God in the entire world and it is proper to serve Him. He would go out and call to the people, gathering them in city after city and country53 after country, until he came to the land of Canaan54 — proclaiming God’s existence the entire time — as Genesis 21:33 states: “And He called there in the name of the Lord, the eternal God.”55וְהִתְחִיל לַעֲמֹד וְלִקְרֹא בְּקוֹל גָּדוֹל לְכָל הָעוֹלָם וּלְהוֹדִיעָם שֶׁיֵּשׁ שָׁם אֱלוֹהַּ אֶחָד לְכָל הָעוֹלָם - וְלוֹ רָאוּי לַעֲבֹד, וְהָיָה מְהַלֵּךְ וְקוֹרֵא וּמְקַבֵּץ הָעָם מֵעִיר לְעִיר וּמִמַּמְלָכָה לְמַמְלָכָה עַד שֶׁהִגִּיעַ לְאֶרֶץ כְּנַעַן - וְהוּא קוֹרֵא, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: "וְיִקְרָא שָׁם בְּשֵׁם ה' אֵל עוֹלָם".
When the people would gather around him and ask him about his statements, he would explain them to each one of them according to their understanding, until they turned to the path of truth. Ultimately, thousands and myriads gathered around him. These are the men of the house of Abraham.56 He planted in their hearts this great fundamental principle, composed texts about it,57 and taught it to Isaac, his son.58וְכֵיוָן שֶׁהָיוּ הָעָם מִתְקַבְּצִין אֵלָיו וְשׁוֹאֲלִין לוֹ עַל דְּבָרָיו, הָיָה מוֹדִיעַ לְכָל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד כְּפִי דַּעְתּוֹ עַד שֶׁיַּחְזִירֵהוּ לְדֶרֶךְ הָאֱמֶת עַד שֶׁנִּתְקַבְּצוּ אֵלָיו אֲלָפִים וּרְבָבוֹת וְהֵם אַנְשֵׁי בֵית אַבְרָהָם. וְשָׁתַל בְּלִבָּם הָעִקָּר הַגָּדוֹל הַזֶּה וְחִבֵּר בּוֹ סְפָרִים וְהוֹדִיעוֹ לְיִצְחָק בְּנוֹ.
Isaac also taught others and turned their hearts to God. He also taught Jacob59 and appointed him as a teacher.60וְיָשַׁב יִצְחָק מְלַמֵּד וּמַזְהִיר; וְיִצְחָק הוֹדִיעַ לְיַעֲקֹב וּמִנָּהוּ לְלַמֵּד, וְיָשַׁב מְלַמֵּד וּמַחְזִיק כָּל הַנִּלְוִים אֵלָיו.
Jacob taught others and turned the hearts of all those who gathered around him to God. He also taught all of his children.61 He selected Levi and appointed him as the leader.62 He established him as the head of the academy63 to teach them the way of God64 and observe the mitzvot of Abraham.65 Jacob commanded his sons that the leadership should not depart from the descendants of Levi,66 so that the teachings would not be forgotten. This concept proceeded and gathered strength among the descendants of Jacob and those who collected around them, until there became a nation within the world which knew God.67וְיַעֲקֹב אָבִינוּ לִמֵּד בָּנָיו כֻּלָּם וְהִבְדִּיל לֵוִי וּמִנָּהוּ רֹאשׁ וְהוֹשִׁיבוֹ בִּישִׁיבָה לְלַמֵּד דֶּרֶךְ הַשֵּׁם וְלִשְׁמֹר מִצְוַת אַבְרָהָם; וְצִוָּה אֶת בָּנָיו שֶׁלֹּא יַפְסִיקוּ מִבְּנֵי לֵוִי מְמֻנֶּה אַחַר מְמֻנֶּה - כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא תִּשָּׁכַח הַלִּמּוּד. וְהָיָה הַדָּבָר הוֹלֵךְ וּמִתְגַּבֵּר בִּבְנֵי יַעֲקֹב וּבַנִּלְוִים עֲלֵיהֶם, וְנַעֲשֵׂית בָּעוֹלָם אֻמָּה שֶׁהִיא יוֹדַעַת אֶת ה'.
When the Jews extended their stay in Egypt,68 however, they learned from the Egyptians’ deeds and began worshiping the stars as they did,69 with the exception of the tribe of Levi, who clung to the mitzvot of the patriarchs — the tribe of Levi never served false gods.70 Within a short time, the fundamental principle that Abraham had planted would have been uprooted, and the descendants of Jacob would have returned to the errors of the world and their crookedness.71עַד שֶׁאָרְכוּ הַיָּמִים לְיִשְׂרָאֵל בְּמִצְרַיִם וְחָזְרוּ לִלְמֹד מַעֲשֵׂיהֶן וְלַעֲבֹד כּוֹכָבִים כְּמוֹתָן - חוּץ מִשֵּׁבֶט לֵוִי שֶׁעָמַד בְּמִצְוַת אָבוֹת, וּמֵעוֹלָם לֹא עָבַד שֵׁבֶט לֵוִי עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים, וְכִמְעַט קָט הָיָה הָעִקָּר שֶׁשָּׁתַל אַבְרָהָם נֶעֱקַר וְחוֹזְרִין בְּנֵי יַעֲקֹב לְטָעוּת הָעוֹלָם וּתְעִיּוֹתָן.
Because of God’s love for us, and to uphold the oath He made to Abraham, our patriarch,72 He brought forth Moses, our teacher,73 the master of all prophets,74 and sent him to redeem the Jews.75 After Moses, our teacher, prophesied, and God chose Israel as His inheritance, He crowned them with mitzvot and informed them of the path to serve Him, teaching them the judgment prescribed for idol worship and all those who stray after it.76וּמֵאַהֲבַת ה' אוֹתָנוּ וּמִשָּׁמְרוֹ אֶת הַשְּׁבוּעָה לְאַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ, עָשָׂה משֶׁה רַבֵּנוּ רַבָּן שֶׁל כָּל הַנְּבִיאִים וּשְׁלָחוֹ. כֵּיוָן שֶׁנִּתְנַבֵּא משֶׁה רַבֵּנוּ וּבָחַר ה' יִשְׂרָאֵל לְנַחֲלָה - הִכְתִּירָן בְּמִצְוֹת וְהוֹדִיעָם דֶּרֶךְ עֲבוֹדָתוֹ, וּמַה יִהְיֶה מִשְׁפַּט עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים וְכָל הַטּוֹעִים אַחֲרֶיהָ.