Why does the Torah use the double expression "Abeid Te'abdun"?
Rashi: To teach us that, after destroying the location of the Avodah-Zarah, one needs to dig after the roots, so that no trace of it remains. 1
Yerushalmi Avodah Zarah, 4:4: To render the Avodah Zarah of a Nochri Asur be'Hana'ah from the moment that he makes it. 2
Sifri: To teach us that if one cuts down an Asheirah and it regrows, even ten times, it remains forbidden.
What does the Torah mean when it writes "Abeid Te'abdun es Kol ha'Mekomos"?
Rashi, Targum Onkelos and Targum Yonasan 1 : It refers, not to the actual locations - which are not even Asur be'Hana'ah, 2 but to the gods that are found on them - as the Pasuk goes on to explain.
Or ha'Chayim: It refers to houses of Avodah Zarah - which are Asur be'Hana'ah, since they are built by man. 3
What is the significance of the locations that the Torah specifies?
Rashi: In fact, one is obligated to destroy Avodah Zarah wherever one finds it, as implied by the first half of the Pasuk - and the Torah is merely informing us where it is most likely to be found. 1
Refer also to 20:15:1:1*. Torah Temimah (citing Avodah-Zarah, 45b).
Why does the Torah insert the (otherwise superfluous) words "asher Atem Yorshim osam"?
Sifri: To inform us that, if we follow in the footsteps of the nations that we destroy, others will come and inherit the land from us. 1
See Torah Temimah, note 7.
Wha are the implications of the words "Al he'Harim ha'Ramim" to "asher Aatem Yorshim Sham es Eloheihem"?
Avodah Zarah, 45b: In order to Darshen "Eloheihem al he'Harim" - 've'Lo he'Harim Eloheihem' - It is only the gods that are on the mountains and on the hills plateaus that one needs to destroy, but not the mountains and the plateaus themselves. 1
See Torah Temimah, note 8. Alternatively, the reason for this is perhaps because Hashem does not want fools to destroy the world that He created.
Why does the Torah need to list the locations where the Avodah is found?
Mechilta (in Sh'mos 22:19): To teach them exactly whereabouts they were likely to find the Avodah Zarah that the Nochrim worship, and that they were not obligated to search for it in pits trenches and caves. 1
Avodah Zarah, 45b: To teach them that wherever they would find a tall mountain, a raised plateau or a leafy tree, they would find an Avodah Zarah.
See Torah Temimah, citing Avodah Zarah, 45b, and note 9.
What is the meaning of "Eitz Ra'anan"?
It means 'a fresh' or 'a leafy tree'. 1
Targum Onkelos and Targum Yonasan: It means 'a beautiful tree'
Nidah, 13a: We learn vi a Gezeirah Shavah "Eitz Ra'anan" "ha'Nechamim ba'Eilim ('who indulge in your lust') Tachas Kol Eitz Ra'anan" Yeshayah, 57:5 that if someone masterbates it is as if he worshipped Avodah Zarah. 2
Why does Torah require the destruction of things that did nothing wrong?
Rashi: Refer to Vayikra, 20:15:1:1 and note.
