EXOD889 Do not take an oath in the name of an idol. Do not swear an oath in the name of an idol, and do not have a gentile swear such an oath. Some explain that the main prohibition is on doing business with an idol worshipper on one of his religious holidays, for if the gentile profits from the venture he might go and give thanks to his deity and the Jew will have caused the idol’s name to be mentioned and praised. To distance us from possible violation of the prohibition, our Sages even forbid us to say to someone, “Wait for me near idol such and such.” Key concept: To alienate ourselves from idol worship to the greatest degree possible, never thinking about it. [Owing to the fact that idol worship is so abhorrent in Hashem’s eyes, we are warned about it in forty-four places in the Torah.]