Moreh Nevuchim (3:29) You know from the repeated declarations in the Law that the
principal purpose of the whole Law was the removal and utter destruction of
idolatry, and all that is connected therewith, even its name, and everything
that might lead to any such practices The law prohibits us to imitate the
heathen in any of these deeds, and a fortiori to adopt them entirely. It is
distinctly said in the Law that everything which idolaters consider as service
to their gods, and a means of approaching them, is rejected and despised by
God; comp. "for every abomination to the Lord, which he hateth, have they
done unto their gods" (Deut. 12:3 1). In the books which I shall name to
you later on, it is stated that on certain occasions they offered to the sun,
their greatest god, seven beetles, and seven mice, and seven bats. This alone
suffices to show how disgusting their practice must be to human nature. Thus
all precepts cautioning against idolatry, or against that which is connected
therewith, leads to it, or is related to it, are evidently useful. They all
tend to save us from the evil doctrines that deprive us of everything useful
for the acquisition of the twofold perfection of man, by leading to those
absurd practices in which our fathers and ancestors have been brought up. It is
in reference to these idolatrous ideas that the true prophets exclaim,
"They walked after vain things, which do not profit." How great is
the usefulness of every precept that delivers us from this great error, and
leads us back to the true faith: that God, the Creator of all things, rules the
Universe: that He must be served, loved, and feared, and not those imaginary
deities. According to this faith we approach the true God, and obtain His
favour without having recourse to burdensome means: for nothing else is
required but to love and fear Him; this is the aim in serving God, as will be
shown. Comp. "And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee
but to fear the Lord"? etc. (Deut. 10:12). I shall complete this subject
later on: now let us return to the theme [of this chapter]. I say that my knowledge of the belief, practice, and worship
of the Sabeans has given me an insight into many of the divine precepts, and
has led me to know their reason. You will confirm it when I shall give the
reason of commandments which are seemingly purposeless. I will mention to you
the works from which you may learn all that I know of the religion and the
opinions of the Sabeans; you will thereby obtain a true knowledge of my theory
as regards the purpose of the divine precepts. The great book on this subject
is the book On the Nabatean Agriculture,
Moreh Nevuchim (3:37)
It is the object and centre of the whole Law to abolish idolatry and
utterly uproot it, and to overthrow the opinion that any of the stars could
interfere for good or evil in human matters, because it leads to the worship of
stars.
