The Sifrei Devarim, a legal midrash on the Book of Deuteronomy, gives us a couple of stark examples, pulling no punches.
The first offense? Doing "strange" things. Sounds vague. But the Sifrei Devarim quickly clarifies by pointing us to the story of Ma'achah in the Book of Kings (I Kings 15:13). Ma'achah, King Asa's grandmother, was removed from her position of power because she had created an abomination for the asheirah. An asheirah, of course, refers to a wooden pole or tree representing a Canaanite goddess.
So, what's so provoking about this? It's not just idolatry, but a deliberate act of embracing foreign, forbidden practices. It’s a blatant rejection of the covenant, a slap in the face to the relationship between God and the Jewish people.
The second transgression mentioned is even more direct: "They angered Him with abominations." And here, the Sifrei Devarim gets very specific, calling out homosexuality.
It points to Leviticus 18:22: "And with a male you shall not lie the lyings of a woman; it is an abomination." It also references the rampant prostitution described in I Kings 14:24: "There was also prostitution in the land; they did all the abominations of the nations, etc."
These verses are often points of contention, of course. Interpretations vary, and modern sensibilities often clash with ancient codes. But what's undeniable is that, within the context of the Sifrei Devarim, these acts are viewed as deeply offensive. They are seen as violations of the divinely ordained order, representing a descent into moral chaos and a rejection of holiness.
So, what are we to make of this? Are these just outdated prohibitions?
Perhaps the deeper message isn't about specific acts, but about the underlying principles. It's about the importance of honoring the covenant, of striving for holiness, and of avoiding behaviors that lead us away from the Divine. It's about recognizing that our actions have consequences, not just for ourselves, but for our relationship with something far greater than ourselves. These ancient texts invite us into a conversation that continues to this day about what it means to live a life of meaning, purpose, and connection to the Source of all being.