ישעיהו, פרק ס״ה, פסוק י״א

A stark warning is directed at the wicked among the Israelites who have turned their backs on God. Because they have embraced idol worship and denied Him, they will face destruction and miss out on the goodness that the future holds [רש״י, רד״ק, מלבי״ם]. They are accused of abandoning God and forgetting His holy mountain. Instead of bringing their offerings to the Temple, which is the only proper place for sacrifices, they have chosen to engage in foreign rituals [מצודת דוד, רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

Following an ancient custom, these individuals set elaborate tables of food and pour drinks to honor various deities [שד״ל, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. These offerings include wine carefully mixed with water, prepared specifically for ritual pouring [רש״י, מצודת ציון, אבן עזרא]. The primary approach among commentators is that the objects of this misguided devotion are stars, constellations, or deities of fate. Many identify the main focus of their worship as Jupiter, which was viewed at the time as the star responsible for bringing good fortune, abundance, and success [רד״ק, אבן עזרא, מצודת דוד, שד״ל]. Alongside Jupiter, they also honor Venus, considered the second most important star for granting success [שד״ל]. Alternatively, this secondary object of worship is linked to the concept of counting, referring either to specific constellations with a set number of stars or to the seven visible planets [רד״ק, אבן עזרא]. Another perspective suggests that the people are simply setting their tables for the sun and the moon [שד״ל].

In contrast to the theme of star worship, a completely different approach suggests that the focus is not on literal idols, but on a lifestyle of extreme indulgence. Rooted in language related to troops and numbers, this view describes people who gather in large crowds to eat, drink, and chase physical pleasures, entirely ignoring the works of God [מלבי״ם]. Similarly drawing on the idea of counting, another interpretation explains that the sinners were filling bowls of wine to match the exact number of idol-worshipping priests who facilitated their rituals [רש״י].