Torah and Jewish Idea > Torah and Jewish Idea
Deuteronomy 16:21 - sacred posts
msd:
Deuteronomy 16:21
It says "You shall not set up a sacred post -- any kind of pole beside the altar of the LORD your G od that you may make -- or erect a stone pillar; for such the LORD your G od detests."
What does this mean?
My first thought was that it meant flag poles, such as an American flag pole, or an Israeli flag pole in Israel, or all those flag poles at United Nation buildings. And I was thinking that it might mean that you're not supposed to do this because it's an idol of the nation-state, or it shows you have too much patriotism and nationalism in your heart (putting that before God).
Lisa:
I think it might have something to do with not worshipping idols. After all, it is possible to put images on poles.
Kahane-Was-Right BT:
--- Quote from: msd on May 14, 2009, 10:53:48 AM ---Deuteronomy 16:21
It says "You shall not set up a sacred post -- any kind of pole beside the altar of the LORD your G od that you may make -- or erect a stone pillar; for such the LORD your G od detests."
--- End quote ---
Where did you get this translation from? It sounds like it's more of a paraphrasing and they mixed together two verses (21 and 22). 21 is speaking about trees... and 22 is about stone monuments.....
But in verse 21, I'm not sure what asherah means. I would have to ask around to find out....
Lisa:
KWR, Asherah was a pagan Near Eastern goddess. Here's some background info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asherah
Here's a more detailed explanation from the Jewish Encyclopedia which explains why setting up sacred poles or posts was forbidden:
http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=1942&letter=A&search=Asherah
A Hebrew word occurring frequently in the Bible (R. V.) and signifying, except in a few late passages noted below, a wooden post or pole planted near the altars of various gods. In the Authorized Version the word is rendered "grove."
It has often been inferred from Deut. xvi. 21 that the Asherah was originally a tree, but the passage should be translated "an asherah of any kind of wood" (compare Moore, "Ency. Bibl." and Budde, "New World," viii. 734), since the sacred tree had a name of its own, el, elah, elon, and the Asherah was sometimes set up under the living tree (II Kings xvii. 10). This pole was often of considerable size (Judges vi. 25), since it could furnish fuel for the sacrifice of a bullock. It was found near the altars of Baal, and, down to the days of Josiah, near those of Hashem also, not only at Samaria (II Kings xiii. 6) and Beth-el (II Kings xxiii. 15), but even at Jerusalem (II Kings xxiii. 6). Sometimes it was carved in revolting shapes (I Kings xv. 13), and at times, perhaps, draped (II Kings xxiii. 7). It is most often associated in the Bible with the pillars ("maẓẓebot") that in primitive days served at once as a representation of the god and as an altar (W. R. Smith, "Religion of the Semites," 2d ed., p. 204). It was proscribed in the Deuteronomic law and abolished in Josiah's reform (II Kings xxii. 23).
msd:
--- Quote from: Kahane-Was-Right BT on May 14, 2009, 01:39:55 PM ---
--- Quote from: msd on May 14, 2009, 10:53:48 AM ---Deuteronomy 16:21
It says "You shall not set up a sacred post -- any kind of pole beside the altar of the LORD your G od that you may make -- or erect a stone pillar; for such the LORD your G od detests."
--- End quote ---
Where did you get this translation from? It sounds like it's more of a paraphrasing and they mixed together two verses (21 and 22). 21 is speaking about trees... and 22 is about stone monuments.....
But in verse 21, I'm not sure what asherah means. I would have to ask around to find out....
--- End quote ---
Jewish Publication Society, 3rd edition, 1992.
This version at Mechon Mamre is different:
http://mechon-mamre.org/e/et/et0516.htm
{S} 21 Thou shalt not plant thee an Asherah of any kind of tree beside the altar of the LORD thy God, which thou shalt make thee. 22 Neither shalt thou set thee up a pillar, which the LORD thy God hateth. {S}
So I guess it doesn't refer to flag poles. Case closed.
Thanks.
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