Do not make that which is with Me. Gods of silver and gods of gold do not make for yourself.
The Ohr Hachaim asks why the Torah calls these idols ‘that which is with me’. The Mechilta writes that this possuk is forbidding the addition of another molten Cherub to the Holy Ark, the Aron Hakodesh. They were commanded to make two, and if they add to ‘that which is with me’ another Cherub, they transgress this commandment. The possuk considers this a god of silver, an idol and false icon. This possuk also forbids a person from making something that looks like Hashem’s servants, such as the sun and the moon.
But we still need to understand what the possuk means with the last words - לֹׂא תַעֲשוּ לָּכֶם - do not make for yourself. What is the Torah adding with these words?
The Ohr Hachaim explains that there are two kinds of people who worship idols. Some believe honestly in the power of the idol and that which it represents. They are commanded לֹׂא תַעֲשוּן אִּתִּי אֱלוֹקי כֶסֶף וֵׁאלוקי זָּהָּב - Do not make that which is with Me. Gods of silver and gods of gold. Do not serve them or worship them at all. This refers to a person who believes in these strange ideas. The possuk writes with me because someone who worships idols attaches himself to the evil source of that idol. The source of a Jewish person’s soul is affected by the idol worship, as he makes room for the evil side to dwell at the source of his soul, which is supposed to be a source of extreme holiness.
The Torah writes לֹׂא תַעֲשוּן אִּתִּי – do not bring the evil one alongside me, do not place idol worship in the holiest part of your soul.
Others worship idols in the knowledge that it is all nonsense. But they do so because they derive some side benefit, as though they were being paid to do so. This person convinces himself that it is fine, because the main thing in Heaven is where the heart is, and his heart is pure for Hashem.
To this person, Hashem says וֵׁאלוקי זָּהָּב לֹׂא תַעֲשוּ לָּכֶם – do not make idols of gold for yourself. Even when you know it is all nonsense, do not worship them for your own purpose. This is called a god of gold, because he is worshipped for the gold he brings.
