What are the connotations of ?Az Huchal??
Rashi: It means ?Then they desecrated? (it is an expression of ?Chulin?).
Rashbam, Sefforno, Targum Onkelos and Targum Yonasan: It means ?Then they began (to go astray - Targum Yonasan)?.
"Az Huchal Likro be'Shem Hashem". What did the generation of Enosh begin doing?
Rashi #1, Rosh and Targum Yonasan: They began to make holy things mundane (by calling people and - Rashi) the idols that they began to worship by the Name of Hashem. 1
Rashi #2 (in Shabbos, 118b): They began worshiping Avodah Zarah.
Rashbam and Targum Onkelos: They began (Techilah) to Daven to Hashem to save them from the troubles that began to plague them.
Seforno: The Tzadikim of that generation began to teach the people about Hashem, to counter the idolatrous ideology that had begun to take root at that time.
Da'as Zekenim: They began to swear falsely, as the Torah writes in Matos Bamidbar, 30:3 "Lo Yachel Devaro?.
Oznayim la?Torah citing the Rambam: For the first time, people started to believe that Hashem handed over the world to the stars and constellations and that they were therefore obligated to give the stars and the constellations Kavod that is due to Hashem Himself. And with the passing of time, they forgot about Hashem and began worshipping the stars and the constellations as gods. Hence those who remained faithful to Hashem took to calling out the Name of Hashem to remind the people of the existence of His Existence. 2
QUESTIONS ON RASHI
Rashi writes: "'Then it was begun' - to call the names of idols, by the Name of Hashem." Perhaps it means they began to name human beings by the Name of Hashem?
Gur Aryeh: Although idols are not mentioned explicitly in the Pasuk, it was uncommon to ascribe divinity to human beings and name them as such. 1 It was more common to do so to inanimate objects.
Our text in Rashi in fact says the opposite; "to call human beings and idols by the Name of Hashem.... to make them deities and call them gods." Perhaps these words had been stricken out by the censor? (CS)
Rashi writes: "... to call them gods." Why can't we interpret this verse positively, i.e. 'Then people began to call out to [i.e. worship] Hashem'?
Gur Aryeh: This would not be the beginning of man's service to Hashem, for we see that Kayin and Hevel had already brought offerings (4:3-4). 1
Rashi writes: "'Then it was begun' ("Az Huchal") - to make them deities and call them gods." What does the word "Huchal" mean?
Gur Aryeh: On the simple level, "Huchal" comes from the word "Techilah," "beginning." However, the choice of this word conveys the extra meaning of "Chulin" - "profane," "desecration." 1
Some editions of Rashi begin with the words, "'Az Huchal' - an expression of Chulin (desecration)." It is clear that Gur Aryeh did not have this text, because he explains that the basic translation of "Huchal" is "beginning."
