What is the significance of "Yizb'chu la'Sheidim Lo Elo'ah"?
Rashi (citing Targum Onkelos), Rosh and Targum Yonasan: 'They sacrificed to (gods that resembled - Targum Yonasan) demons 1 that have nothing to offer' (no divine power - Rosh), because if they did, Hashem's anger would not be as intense as it is now.
Seforno: 'They sacrificed to demons that are finite. 2
Hadar Zekenim: 'They sacrificed to demons, which are desolate (Shadud) and despicable.
Oznayim la'Torah: They will believe in anything that goes with the times - as long as it has nothing to do with Hashem. 3
Refer to Vayikra 17:7:3:1. See also Na'ar Yonasan
Seforno: As the Gemara states in Chagigah, 16a.
See Oznayim la'Torah, who elaborates.
What is the significance of "Chadashim mi'Karov Ba'u"?
Rashi: 'Even the nations did not recognize them. In fact, when a Nochri would see it, he would label it 'a Jewish god'.
Seforno: Whenever they discovered some form of being of which they had previously been unaware, they would assume that it must have come about via a hitherto unknown deity, which they would promptly proceed to worship.
Da'as Zekenim: The deities that they worshipped were never called gods until now.
Oznayim la'Torah: New gods spring-up - reform, democracy, socialism, communism - when one fails, the next one emerges to take its place. 1
Se Oanayim la'Torah, who elaborates.
What is the meaning of "Lo Se'arum Avoseichem" "?
Rashi #1 (citing the Sifri): It means 'Your fathers were not afraid of them
Rashi: As happens to someone who is terrified.
Rashi: As in the Pasuk in Yeshayah, 13:21. Rashbam - and as in Vayikra, 17:7.
See Hadar Zwekenim.
As if it had written "She'arum" (with a 'Shiyn)'.
See Oznayim la'Torah, who elaborates.
What are the connottions of "Elohim Lo Yeda'um"?
Da'as Zekenim #1, Hadar Zekenim #1 and Rosh #1: It means that [people] did not perceive any benefit in them [the demons and the gods] - that they chose to worship.
Da'as Zekenim #2, Hadar Zekenim #2 (both citing R. Yosef Kara) and Rosh #2: It means that those demons and gods did not help them (Yisrael) in their afflictions. 1
Targum Onkalos and Targum Yonasan: It means that they (Yisrael) had previously never heard of them.
As opposed to "Vayeida Elokim", "Yada'ati es Mach'ovav" (Sh'mos 2:5, 3:7).
