Exodus 22:20Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The ancient law similarly condemns the unfaithful to death, as it states: “He who sacrifices to gods other than the Lord alone, let him be destroyed.” Thus, to defy the Divine majesty and seek to offer sacrifices to any being of one’s choosing, especially to false deities, is a profound weakness and, more importantly, a grave offense marked by extreme irreverence.

Who can still question that the Romans worshipped wicked and impure spirits unless one is profoundly foolish and stubbornly unwilling to accept the truth? I shall set aside the inquiry of whom they venerated through their offerings, for it is declared in the law of the one true God, ‘He who sacrifices to gods other than the Lord alone shall be destroyed.’ The One who issued this command did not wish for sacrifices to be presented to either benevolent or malevolent deities.

The term ‘destroyed’ corresponds to the Hebrew word Cherem, which in Leviticus (27:28) denotes something that is pledged or devoted to the Lord through a covenant. Items, animals, or property that have been set apart for the Lord cannot be redeemed for any price. In this context, commentators interpret Cherem to refer to the death of someone sanctified. His life is dedicated to God, as he has turned to serve other deities, and this serves as atonement for his transgressions. He becomes a cherem to the Lord from the nation of Israel, for his actions bring upon the people the divine judgment of the Lord.