Texts in Conversation
In Exodus 20, God forbids making “gods” of silver or gold “alongside me,” language that was debated by interpreters. Some saw it as banning images of heavenly beings or avoiding comparisons to God. The Aramaic translation in Targum Onkelos simplifies it by using the word “idols,” removing any sense of equality or closeness to God.
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Exodus 20:23
Hebrew Bible
22 The Lord said to Moses, “Thus you will tell the Israelites: ‘You yourselves have seen that I have spoken with you from heaven. 23 You must not make gods of silver alongside me, nor make gods of gold for yourselves. 24 “‘You must make for me an altar made of earth, and you will sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your cattle. In every place where I cause my name to be honored I will come to you and I will bless you.
Date: 5th Century B.C.E. (Final composition) (based on scholarly estimates)
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Onkelos Exodus 20:20
Targum
19 And the Lord said to Mosheh, Thus shalt thou speak to the children of Israel; You have seen that I have spoken to you from the heavens. 20 You shall not make before Me idols of silver, neither idols of gold shall you make to you. 21 An altar of earth shalt thou make before Me, and shalt sacrifice upon it thy burnt offerings and thy sanctified victims, thy sheep and thy oxen. In every place where I may cause My Shekinah to dwell, thither will I send My blessing, and will bless thee.
Date: 100-200 C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
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Notes and References
"... Rather than the biblical 'with me,' which, according to opinions in the Babylonian Talmud (Avodah Zarah 43b), means 'heavenly beings' or 'a human face.' Rabbi Akiva in the Mekhilta sees it as an ethical injunction: do not treat Me as others treat their gods, praising them only for good tidings. Onkelos sidesteps the anthropomorphism. Rashi, borrowing from the Mekhilta, renders it as 'you shall not make an image of my servants who serve before Me in the heavens.' Ibn Ezra explains that the Israelites might be inclined to make gods to serve as intermediaries between them and God (as in the case of the Golden Calf.) Hence, God warns them, 'I do not need intermediaries with Me.' ... 'Idols' is more specific than the biblical 'gods.' The Aramaic makes the change for clarity and so as not to give them equality with the Lord ..."
Drazin, Israel, and Stanley M. Wagner
Onkelos on the Torah, Exodus: Understanding the Bible Text
(p. 128) Gefen, 2006
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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