Exodus and idols

Two Psalms include polemics against idols, in almost identical language: “They have mouths, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see . . . ” (Psalm 115:5-8; 135:15-18).

Both, importantly, follow on the heels of poetic recountings of the exodus. Psalm 114 is about the Jordan and mountains and earth trembling before the Lord “when Israel went forth from Egypt” (v. 1), and then the polemic against idolatry immediately follows. Psalm 135 praises God for smiting the firstborn of Egypt, for giving the land of Sihon and Og to the people of Israel, and then launches into the polemic against idols.

Exodus is the great refutation of idolatry.