Midrash · Halachah
Sifrei Devarim 91/ספרי דברים צ״א
א(דברים יג יב) וְכָל יִשְׂרָאֵל יִשְׁמְעוּ וְיִרָאוּן, מְשַׁמְּרִים אוֹתוֹ עַד הָרֶגֶל וּמְמִיתִים אוֹתוֹ בָּרֶגֶל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְכָל הָעָם יִשְׁמְעוּ וְיִרָאוּ״, דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי עֲקִיבָה.
1Pisqa’ 911761. “And all Israel shall hear and feel dread” (Dt. 13:12).They imprison him until the next Pilgrimage Festival,and they execute him during [the intermediate days of] the Festival,for it is stated:“And all Israel shall hear and feel dread” (Dt. 13:12):words of R. Akiva.
ברַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר: אֵין מְעַנִּים בְּבֵית דִּין! אֵין לִי אֶלָּא זֶה בִּלְבַד,
2R. Judah says:The court permits no delay [once the death sentence is delivered]. 177
גמִנַּיִן לָאוֹמֵר ״אֶעֱבֹד״, ״אֵלֵךְ וְאֶעֱבֹד״, ״נֵלֵךְ וְנַעֲבֹד״, ״אֶזְבַּח״, ״אֵלֵךְ וְאֶזְבַּח״, ״נֵלֵךְ וְנִזְבַּח״, ״אֲקַטֵּר״, ״אֵלֵךְ וַאֲקַטֵּר״, ״נֵלֵךְ וּנְקַטֵּר״, ״אֲנַסֵּךְ״, ״אֵלֵךְ וַאֲנַסֵּךְ״, ״נֵלֵךְ וּנְנַסֵּךְ״, ״אֶשְׁתַּחֲוֶה״, ״אֵלֵךְ וְאֶשְׁתַּחֲוֶה״, ״נֵלֵךְ וְנִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה״? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: וְלֹא יוֹסִפוּ לַעֲשׂוֹת כַּדָּבָר הָרָע הַזֶּה, לֹא כְ׳דָבָר׳ וְלֹא כְ׳רָע׳ וְלֹא כְ׳זֶה׳!
32. I might infer that [stoning] applies only to this case[in which the tempter summons the name of a god].On what basis do I know that[the punishment applies as well] to one who says:I will serve this; [or] I will go and serve;[or] let’s go and serve;I will sacrifice to this; [or] I will go and sacrifice;[or] let’s go and sacrifice;I will offer incense to this; [or] I will go and offer incense;[or] let’s go and offer incense;I will pour a libation to this ; [or] I will go and pour;[or]let’s go and pour;I will prostrate myself; [or] I will go and prostrate myself;[or] let’s go and prostrate ourselves.The Teaching states:“And they shall never repeat any evil thing like this” (Dt. 13:12)—neither like the thing, nor like its evil, and nothing like this!
דיָכוֹל אַף הַמְגַפֵּף וְהַמְנַשֵּׁק וְהַמַּרְבִּיץ וְהַמַּרְחִיץ וְהַסָּךְ וְהַמַּלְבִּישׁ וְהַמַּנְעִיל וְהַמַּעֲטִיף? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר הַזֶּה; זֶה בִּסְקִילָה וְאֵין כָּל אֵלּוּ בִּסְקִילָה.
4Is it possible that[these other acts are also punished by death?]:one who embraces [an image of a god]; or one who kisses it;one who sprinkles upon it; or one who bathes it;one who anoints it with oil; or one who clothes it;one who shoes it; or one who wraps it?The Teaching states:“Like this” (Dt. 13:12)—this one [who utters the god’s name suffers] stoning,but none of these others [is punished by] stoning.178