Shemot 34:15

15 Lest thou make a brit with the inhabitants of HaAretz, and they go awhoring after eloheihem, and do sacrifice unto eloheihem, and one invite thee, and thou eat of his zevach (sacrifice, i.e., participate in his pagan worship);

Shemot 34:15 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 34:15

Lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the
land
A marriage covenant, taking their daughters in marriage to their sons, and "vice versa", as the following words show; here the caution is to be understood and the words supplied from ( Exodus 34:12 ) and inserted and connected thus, "take heed to thyself, lest thou make"

and they go a whoring after their gods;
that is, the inhabitants of the land, and particularly those with whom the Israelites made a covenant, and entered into a marriage relation with, and perhaps on this condition, that they would abstain from idolatry; and yet, contrary to the obligation they laid themselves under, lust after their idols, and commit spiritual fornication or adultery with them, which is explained by the next clause:

and do sacrifice unto their gods;
such as the first institutors of their idolatry enjoined, and their ancestors had observed, and were according to the rites and customs of the country:

and [one] call thee, and thou eat of his sacrifice;
invite to eat of what remained, that was offered to the idol: hence it appears, that having feasts at sacrifices, and eating things offered to idols in a festival way, are very ancient practices; see ( 1 Corinthians 10:27 1 Corinthians 10:28 ) .

Shemot 34:15 In-Context

13 But ye shall destroy their mizbechot, break their matzebot, and cut down their asherah (sacred trees, poles);

14 For thou shalt worship no el acher; for Hashem, Whose Shem is Jealous, is El Kanah;

15 Lest thou make a brit with the inhabitants of HaAretz, and they go awhoring after eloheihem, and do sacrifice unto eloheihem, and one invite thee, and thou eat of his zevach (sacrifice, i.e., participate in his pagan worship);

16 And thou take of their banot unto thy banim, and their banot go a-whoring after their elohim, and make thy banim go a-whoring after their elohim.

17 Thou shalt make thee no elohei massekhah.