ישעיהו, פרק ס״ו, פסוק י״ז

Religious hypocrisy creates a profound gap between outward displays of piety and internal corruption. People summon and prepare one another for idol worship [רש״י, מצודת דוד, מצודת ציון]. They project an image of absolute purity and holiness on the outside, while their inner character and actual deeds remain filthy [רד״ק, מלבי״ם, אבן עזרא]. To perform their rituals, they head to gardens where they have planted vegetables and erected idols [רש״י]. In these garden settings, they immerse themselves in pools of water specifically designated for purification [רד״ק].

The primary approach among commentators is that their worship follows a highly structured process, with group after group entering the center of the garden to approach the idol. Others suggest they perform ritual dances, circling an Asherah tree or a statue placed directly in the middle [אבן עזרא, מלבי״ם], or that they take turns purifying themselves in the courtyard, one by one [שד״ל]. The ritual subtly incorporates both male and female symbolism, represented either by a male spring feeding into a female pool [רד״ק] or by the dual nature of the Asherah tree itself [אבן עזרא].

The ultimate absurdity of their behavior is revealed immediately after their strict purification. Straight from the cleansing waters, they sit down to feast on the meat of pigs, mice, and all manner of impure swarming creatures [אבן עזרא, שד״ל, מצודת ציון]. The consumption of these swarming creatures carries a deeper consequence. Tradition notes that God created certain seemingly useless creatures to arouse His mercy upon sinful humanity. The logic follows that if God sustains creatures with no apparent purpose, He will certainly sustain human beings. However, by eating these creatures, the sinners give them a practical use, effectively destroying the very foundation of God's mercy that protects them [נחל שורק, צוארי שלל, חומת אנך].

The identity of these hypocritical worshippers is a matter of debate. Some suggest they are Israelites who have fallen into sin [מצודת דוד]. Others identify them as foreign nations, such as the Persians, who were known for their frequent bathing rituals coupled with deeply immoral behavior [רד״ק]. Another approach views this as a reference to later groups, pointing to the Ishmaelites, who strictly observe purity, build houses of prayer in gardens, and anticipate physical rewards in paradise, alongside Christians, who consume pork [אברבנאל, אהבת יהונתן, צאינה וראינה]. Ultimately, the fate of all these individuals is sealed. They will completely perish and be destroyed from the world together [מצודת ציון, שטיינזלץ], a total annihilation that some foresee taking place at the end of days during the apocalyptic war of Gog and Magog [רד״ק, אברבנאל].