Guarding the Commandments and Silencing the Names of Other Gods

"And in all that I have said to you, take heed": that a person should not rent out his animal to a gentile or to one suspected concerning the sabbatical year. Rabbi Eliezer ben Yaakov says: this comes to attach a negative command to every positive command stated in the section. "And make no mention of the name of other gods": that a person should not take a vow in the name of an idol, nor uphold an oath in its name, nor cause a gentile to vow in the name of his idol. Another interpretation: "And make no mention of the name of other gods" is a warning to the prophet who prophesies in the name of an idol, for it says, "and that prophet shall die" (Deuteronomy 18:20). We have heard the punishment; from where the warning? Scripture says, "and make no mention of the name of other gods." Another interpretation: "do not make mention": a person should not say to his fellow, "keep watch for me beside such-and-such idol and I will keep watch for you beside such-and-such idol." But any idol mentioned in Scripture is permitted to be named, such as Peor, Bel, Nebo, and Chemosh. "Let it not be heard upon your mouth": this is a warning against the one who entices and the one who incites to idolatry.