יחזקאל, פרק י״ד, פסוק ו׳

Following a specific response to the elders of the people, a broad warning and prophetic call is issued to the entire House of Israel. The message demands a complete process of repentance and a total break from idolatry.

This call to repent is presented as a twofold process. The primary approach among commentators is that the initial step is deeply personal, asking the individual to abandon their evil ways and return directly to God. However, the second stage of this return is understood in two distinct ways. One perspective emphasizes a social and familial responsibility. According to this view, an individual must guide their surroundings back to the right path, encouraging repentance among their family members, spouse, children, and the broader society [מצודת דוד, רד״ק, מלבי״ם]. Conversely, an internal approach suggests that this second step is about directing one's own heart back to God, demanding a complete and absolute detachment from sin [רש״י, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

The required separation involves turning away from the idols that a person has allowed to take root within their own heart [רש״י]. It also requires abandoning the evil deeds and idolatrous practices in which the people are deeply immersed [מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. A unique perspective suggests that the intensity of the repentance must actually be greater and higher than the intensity of the original sins themselves, ensuring a healthy and positive return to God [חומת אנך].

Finally, the process of repentance demands a practical and physical action. The people are instructed to physically turn their faces and avert their gaze, ensuring they no longer even look upon their idols. This deliberate turning away guarantees that these false gods will no longer stand before them as a stumbling block leading to sin. By removing this visual and spiritual obstacle, the people clear the path to earn God's favor, allowing Him to hear and answer their prayers [רש״י, רד״ק, מצודת דוד].