influence the actions of the deity. The ban on images in the second commandment is a ban on any attempt to control or limit Yahweh by making an image of him and thereby influencing him. Israel must understand the nature of her God and must not attempt to manipulate him. The commandment was never intended as a ban on all carved or sculpted objects connected with worship. In fact, neither sacred household objects (e.g., the terapı̂m of Genesis 31), nor the high priest’s ephod (Exod. 28:15), nor the