Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Sforno · Torah

Sforno on Exodus 34:15/ספורנו על שמות ל״ד:ט״ו

אפֶּן תִּכְרֹת בְּרִית. וְהַטַּעַם שֶׁאָמַרְתִּי שֶׁלֹּא תִכְרֹת בְּרִית לְיוֹשֵׁב הָאָרֶץ, הוּא שֶׁאִם תִּהְיֶה עִמּוֹ בִּבְרִית תִּטְעֶה בְּאֵל אַחֵר עַל אֶחָד מִשְּׁנֵי פָנִים: אִם שֶׁיִּקְרָאֲךָ לֶאֱכֹל מִזִּבְחוֹ, וְתַעֲבֹד עִמּוֹ אָז אֶת אֱלֹהָיו לְהָפִיק רְצוֹנוֹ, וְאִם שֶׁתַּעֲשֶׂה זֶה לְאַהֲבַת הַנָּשִׁים, כְּמוֹ שֶׁהָיָה הָעִנְיָן בִּפְעוֹר (במדבר כה:ה).
1פן תכרות ברית, the Torah immediately explains that the reason why entering into contractual relationships with the inhabitants of the land of Canaan is a non starter, is that once you do that the way is open for them to corrupt you by one of two means; either they will woo your sons to marry their daughters or vice versa. It is only the most elementary courtesy then that they invite you to partake in their festive meals (animals offered to their deities) You will not resist such invitations because you do not want to offend the women whom you love. The truth of this was amply demonstrated even with women who did not live in the land of Canaan in Numbers 22,5.