Deuteronomy 16:21

_THOU SHALT NOT PLANT THEE A GROVE OF ANY TREES NEAR UNTO THE ALTAR OF THE LORD THY GOD, WHICH THOU SHALT MAKE THEE._ Thou shalt not plant thee a grove. A grove has in Scripture a variety of significations-a group of overshadowing trees, or a grove adorned with altars dedicated to a particular deity, or a wooden image in a grove (Judges 6:25; 2 Kings 23:4). They might be placed near the earthen and temporary altars erected in the wilderness, but they could not exist either at the tabernacle or temples. They were places which, with their usual accompaniments, presented strong allurements to idolatry; and therefore the Israelites were prohibited from planting them....

21._Thou shalt not plant thee. _It is plain from the end of this verse that it is part of the Second Commandment. We know (300) that amongst the heathen nations groves were sacred, so that with them no religious object would receive due reverence, except under the shade of trees. Wherefore lest conformity with this general custom should vitiate the pure worship of God, this distinction was made; and this then is the intent of the prohibition, that the Jews should fly from all strange rites, lest by too closely approaching the Gentiles, they should introduce a sinful medley. But how necessary this prohibition was, appears from their eager imitation (of the heathen), of which mention is constantly made in the sacred history. For there was scarcely any period in which they abstained from “high places.” Nor is it without reason that Isaiah and Jeremiah reprove them for “playing the harlot un...

18-22 Care is taken for the due administration of justice. All personal regards must be laid aside, so that right is done to all, and wrong to none. Care is taken to prevent following the idolatrous customs of the heathen. Nothing belies God more, or tends more to corrupt the minds of men, than representing and worshipping, by an image, that God, who is an almighty and eternal Spirit, present every where. Alas! even in gospel days, and under a better dispensation, established upon better promises, there is a tendency to set up idols, under one form or another, in the human heart....

Verse Deuteronomy 16:21. _THOU SHALT NOT PLANT THEE A GROVE, C._] We have already seen that _groves_ were planted about idol temples for the purpose of the obscene worship performed in them. (Deuteronomy 12:3, Deuteronomy 12:3.) On this account God would have no groves or thickets about his altar, that there might be no room for suspicion that any thing contrary to the strictest purity was transacted there. Every part of the Divine worship was _publicly_ performed, for the purpose of general edification....

These verses are closely connected in subject with the following chapter, and introduce certain directions for the administration of justice and the carrying on of the civil government of the people in Canaan. During the lifetime of Moses, he himself, especially inspired and guided by God, was sufficient, with the aid of the subordinate judges (compare Exodus 18:13 ff), for the duties in question. But now that Moses was to be withdrawn, and the people would soon be scattered up and down the land of Canaan, regular and permanent provision must be made for civil and social order and good government. Deuteronomy 16:21 A GROVE ... - Render, Thou shalt not plant for thee any tree as an idol: literally as an Asherah,” “i. e.” an ima

EXPOSITION CELEBRATION OF THE PASSOVER FESTIVAL, THE FEAST OF PENTECOST AND OF TABERNACLES. APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE AND PREVENTION OF IDOLATRY. DEUTERONOMY 16:1 (Comp. Exodus 23:14-2; Exodus 34:18,...

THOU SHALL NOT PLANT THEE A GROVE OF ANY TREES,.... Of any sort of trees, as oaks or any other; not but that it was lawful to plant trees and groves of them, but not for a religious or idolatrous use: particularly NEAR UNTO THE ALTAR OF THE LORD THY GOD, WHICH THOU SHALT MAKE THEE; as the Heathens did near their altars, lest it should be thought to be done for a like superstitious and idolatrous use; which evil the Jews sometimes fell into in the times of wicked reigns, and which their good and pious kings removed and destroyed; see 2 Kings 18:4 and Hecataeus b, an Heathen historian, relates of the city of Jerusalem, that there were there no image, nor plantation, nor grove, nor any such thing. b Apud Euseb. Praepar. Evangel. l. 9. c. 4. p. 408....

GROVE The groves (Hebrew, "Asherim") so often mentioned in the Old Testament were devoted to the worship of Ashtereth, the Babylonian goddess, "Ishtar", the "Aphrodite" of the Greeks, the Roman, "Venus". (_ See Scofield) - (Judges 2:13). _...

13. JUSTICE AND THE CHOICE OF A KING Chapter S 16:18-17:20 _ 1. Appointment of judges and their instruction (Deuteronomy 16:18; Deuteronomy 17:1)_ 2. The higher court at the place He chooses (Deuteronomy 17:8) 3. The choice and right of the king (Deuteronomy 17:14) This chapter leads us upon new ground. The obligations of the religious life of Israel were stated in the first part of chapter 16 and now the government of the people in the land is commanded. “Just as in its religious worship the Israelitish nation was to show itself to be the holy nation of Jehovah,

DEUTERONOMY 16. THE DEUTERONOMIC LAWS OF THE THREE ANNUAL PILGRIMAGE FEASTS. These are adaptations of the older laws in Exodus 23:18 *, Exodus 34:18; Exodus 34:22 f. (general regulations); Deuteronomy 12:21 (Passover); Deuteronomy 13:3 (Unleavened Bread), all J or E (see also Leviticus 23* (H) and Numbers 28 f., Numbers 9:1; Exodus 12:1 *,...