Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ramban · Torah
Ramban on Deuteronomy 32:16/רמב"ן על דברים ל״ב:ט״ז
אבְּתוֹעֵבֹת יַכְעִיסֻהוּ, הִבְעִירוּ חֲמָתוֹ בְּתוֹעֵבוֹת וּמַעֲשִׂים מְכֹעָרִים כְּגוֹן מִשְׁכַּב זָכָר וּכְשָׁפִים שֶׁיֵּשׁ בָּהֶם תּוֹעֵבָה, לְשׁוֹן רַשִׁ"י (רש"י על דברים ל"ב:ט"ז). וְכֵן אִיתָא בְּסִפְרֵי (האזינו שיח). אֲבָל אֵין בַּשִּׁירָה תּוֹכַחַת אֶלָּא עַל ע"ז בִּלְבַד. וְטַעַם בְּזָרִים, נִמְשָׁךְ אֶל אֱלוֹהַּ עָשָׂהוּ, יַקְנִיאוּהוּ בֵּאלֹהִים זָרִים, כִּלְשׁוֹן אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים. וְטַעַם בְּתוֹעֵבוֹת, הַשֵּׁדִים, לִשְׂרֹף אֶת בְּנֵיהֶם בָּאֵשׁ לֵאלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים, שֶׁכָּל זֶה מְתֹעָב לְפָנָיו, כְּמוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים י"ב:ל"א), כִּי כָל תּוֹעֲבַת ה' אֲשֶׁר שָׂנֵא עָשׂוּ לֵאלֹהֵיהֶם כִּי גַם אֶת בְּנֵיהֶם וְאֶת בְּנֹתֵיהֶם יִשְׂרְפוּ בָאֵשׁ לֵאלֹהֵיהֶם, וּכְתִיב (ירמיהו לב לה) אֲשֶׁר לֹא צִוִּיתִים (ולא דברתי) וְלֹא עָלְתָה עַל לִבִּי לַעֲשׂוֹת הַתּוֹעֵבָה הַזֹּאת:
1WITH ABOMINATIONS DID THEY PROVOKE HIM — “they kindled His anger with abominations and unseemly deeds, such as sodomy and sorcery in which there is abomination.” This is Rashi’s language, and it is also so stated in the Sifre.60 318. But in this Song there is reproof for idolatry only [and not for immorality]! And the word ‘b’zarim’ [They roused Him to jealousy ‘b’zarim’] is connected with the expression G-d Who made him [in the preceding verse, to mean]: “they roused Him to jealousy with ‘strange gods,’” similar to the phrase other gods.61 And the meaning of the expression, with abominations is [that they worshipped] the demons by burning their children in fire to other gods. For all this is “abominable” to Him, just as it is said, for every abomination to the Eternal, which He hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters do they burn in the fire to their gods,62, 12:31. This is said of the nations that lived in the land of Canaan. and it is further written, which I commanded not, nor spoke it, neither came it unto My mind.63