You Shall Have No Other Gods Who Come Late and Help No One

"You shall have no" (Exodus 20:3). You might think one may not keep [an idol] for oneself but may keep it for others; therefore Scripture teaches, "there shall not be." What does "you shall have no" teach? It teaches that anyone who keeps idolatry for himself transgresses on two counts: on account of "there shall not be" and on account of "to you." "Gods": you might think, since they are called gods, that there is need of them before Me; therefore Scripture teaches, "other." Another interpretation: what does "other gods" teach? That one should not make a god of silver or of gold and say, "It is not an abomination but a god, not a foul thing but a god"; therefore Scripture teaches "other gods" - even though you do not hold it to be a god, you are not permitted to keep it. Another interpretation: "other" - they were made last; so it says, "new ones lately come, whom your fathers did not dread" (Deuteronomy 32:17); they did not profit you, nor did they profit your fathers, nor did they profit anyone in their days. Another interpretation: "other" - they delay the good from coming into the world. Another interpretation: "other" - they make their worshippers into strangers. "Before Me" (Exodus 20:3): not in My likeness and not in the likeness of My servants. Another interpretation: "before Me" teaches that they bring wrath [text uncertain] into the world.