"You shall not bow down to them"

Synopsis

Rabbi Elazar explains why it is forbidden to marry any woman from a heathen nation, for the result is always rebellious children who inherit the taint of idolatry. We are reminded that we who keep the commandments of the Torah are the children of Hashem.

Marriage Torah Women

434. "You shall not bow down to them, nor serve them" (Shemot 20:5). Rabbi Elazar was once walking in company with Rabbi Chiya. Rabbi Chiya said, It is written, "And you see among the captives a beautiful woman..." (Devarim 21:11). Why DOES THE TORAH ALLOW MARRIAGE TO HER? Is it written, "You shall not make marriages with them" (Devarim 7:3). He replied to him, THIS ONLY APPLIED to women independent in their own land. HERE IT INDICATES A CAPTIVE WOMAN WHO COMES UNDER THE RULE OF YISRAEL. THEREFORE, SHE IS PERMITTED BY THE TORAH TO BE TAKEN AS A WIFE.

434. לֹא תִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה לָהֶם וְלֹֹא תָעָבְדֵם. ר' אֶלְעָזָר הֲוָה אָזִיל בְּאָרְחָא, וַהֲוָה ר' חִיָּיא עִמֵּיהּ. אָמַר ר' חִיָּיא, כְּתִיב וְרָאִיתָ בַּשִּׁבְיָה אֵשֶׁת יְפַת תֹּאַר וְגוֹ', מַאי טַעֲמָא. וְהָא כְּתִיב לֹֹא תִתְחַתֵּן בָּם. אָמַר לֵיהּ, בְּעוֹד דְּבִרְשׁוּתַיְיהוּ קַיְימֵי.

Idolatry Judgment Moses Women

435. Come and behold, there is no woman among the heathen nations who is free from taint, therefore this section concerning the captive woman is immediately followed by that of the rebellious son, to indicate that whoever marries such a woman, begets rebellious children. What is the reason for this? The impurity of idolatry inherited by the mother is difficult to remove, and this is even the more so if she has already been married to a heathen, for Judgment cleaves to Judgment, and she is tainted. Therefore, Moses commanded the extermination of the Midianite women, as it is written, "Kill every woman that has known man by lying with him" (Bemidbar 31:17).

435. וְתָא חֲזִי, לֵית לָךְ אִנְתּוּ בְּעַמִּין עעכו"ם כְּשֵׁרָה כַּדְקָא חֲזִי. דְּתָנֵינָן, אֲמַאי אַסְמִיךְ פַּרְשְׁתָּא דָּא, לְבֶן סוֹרֵר וּמוֹרֶה. אֶלָּא בְּוַדַּאי, מַאן דְּנָסִיב הַאי אִתְּתָא, בֶּן סוֹרֵר וּמוֹרֶה יָרִית מִינָהּ. מַאי טַעֲמָא. מִשּׁוּם דְּקָשֶׁה לְמֶעְבַּר זוּהֲמָא מִינָהּ, וְכָל שֶׁכֵּן הַהִיא דְּאִתְנְסִיבַת בְּקַדְמֵיתָא, דְּדִינָא בְּדִינָא אִתְדְּבַק, וְאִסְתְּאָבָת בָּהּ, וְקַשְׁיָא זוּהֲמָא לְמֶעְבַּר מִינָהּ, וְהַיְינוּ דְּאָמַר מֹשֶׁה בִּנְשֵׁי מִדְיָן, וְכָל אִשָּׁה יוֹדַעַת אִישׁ לְמִשְׁכַּב זָכַר הֲרוֹגוּ.

Body Covenant (Brit) Firstborn Hands Torah Zeir Anpin

436. Happy is the portion of the man who keeps this heritage in purity, THAT OF THE HOLY COVENANT, for in this holy possession he unites himself with the Holy One, blessed be He. This is all the more so if he keeps the commandments of the Torah. Then the King stretches out His right hand to receive him, and he cleaves to the Holy Body, NAMELY, ZEIR ANPIN. Therefore it is written of Yisrael: "But you that did cleave to Hashem your Elohim" (Devarim 4:4), and, "You are the children of Hashem your Elohim" (Devarim 14:1) - literally children, as it is written, "Yisrael is My son, My firstborn" (Shemot 4:22), and "Yisrael, in whom I will be glorified" (Yeshayah 49:3).

436. זַכָּאָה חוּלָקֵיהּ, דְּהַהוּא בַּר נָשׁ דְּיָרִית אַחֲסַנְתָּא דָּא, וְנָטִיר לָהּ. דִּבְהַהוּא אַחֲסָנָא קַדִּישָׁא אִתְדָּבַּק בַּר נָשׁ בְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, כָּל שֶׁכֵּן אִי זָכֵי בְּפִקּוּדֵי אוֹרַיְיתָא, דְּהָא פָּשִׁיט מַלְכָּא יְמִינֵיהּ לָקֳבְלֵיהּ, וְאִתְדְּבַק בְּגוּפָא קַדִּישָׁא. וְעַל דָּא כְּתִיב בְּהוּ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל, וְאַתֶּם הַדְּבֵקִים בַּיְיָ' אֱלֹֹהֵיכֶם. וּכְתִיב בָּנִים אַתֶּם לַיְיָ'. בָּנִים אַתֶּם מַמָּשׁ. דִּכְתִּיב בְּנִי בְכוֹרִי יִשְׂרָאֵל. וּכְתִיב יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲשֶׁר בְּךָ אֶתְפָּאָר.