ירמיהו, פרק י׳, פסוק ט׳

The creation of a false god requires a massive investment of human effort, artistic talent, and precious resources. Yet, this grand display stands in sharp contrast to the absolute uselessness of the final product. The prophet mocks those who worship idols, exposing how they attempt to manufacture a sense of awe and divinity through imported materials and human craftsmanship.

To construct the idol, artisans use silver that is flattened into thin plates. These plates are carefully wrapped around a wooden core to beautify the figure [רש״י, מצודת דוד, רד״ק]. The idolaters go to great lengths to secure this silver, importing it from a distant geographical location known as Tarshish [מצודת ציון, רד״ק]. Because large silver mines were not present in the Land of Israel, this likely refers to Tarshish in Spain [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. To further glorify the idol's appearance, they also use a highly refined, pure gold brought from a place called Uphaz [מצודת ציון, מצודת דוד].

The manufacturing process is divided among specialized professionals. A metalworker melts and refines the gold, carefully removing any impurities, while a woodworker carves the wooden core and crafts the silver plates [מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם]. Once the body of the idol is fully shaped, it is dressed in luxurious garments dyed in expensive and prestigious colors of blue and purple [מצודת ציון]. These embroidered clothes are woven by expert and highly skilled artisans.

All of this exhausting labor and attention to detail is designed to impress the general public. By presenting a visually stunning object, the creators hope to plant a sense of fear and belief in the hearts of the masses [רד״ק]. However, a deep irony lies at the center of this practice. It is baffling how such wise and skilled individuals can dedicate themselves to such absolute foolishness [מצודת דוד]. Despite the extreme physical effort, the distant origins of the materials, and the mastery of the artisans, these idols hold no divine power. Ultimately, they are nothing more than lifeless works of art and empty toys [מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ].