Deuteronomy 16:21

“Thou shall not plant thee a grove of any trees, etc.] 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 <121804>2 Kings 18:4 21:3 23:4,7,14,15) and Hecataeus f186, an Heathen historian, relates of the city of Jerusalem, that there were there no image, nor…”

“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 (Jdg 6:25; Kg2 23:4-6). 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.”

“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 But now that Moses was to be withdrawn, and the people would soon be scattered up and down the land of Canaan, regular and permanent provision must be made for civil and social order and good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:…”

“Thou shalt not plant - Because this was the practice of idolaters, and might be an occasion of reviving idolatry. Next: Deuteronomy Chapter 17”

“16:21-22 Asherah pole . . . sacred pillars: See study note on 7:5; see also 12:3; Isa 27:8-9; Mic 5:13-15.”

“Exo 34:13; Jdg 3:7; Kg1 14:15, Kg1 16:33; Kg2 17:16, Kg2 21:3; Ch2 33:3 Deuteronomy 16:22”

“"Thou shalt not plant thee as asherah any wood beside the altar of Jehovah." נטע, to plant, used figuratively, to plant up or erect, as in Ecc 12:11; Dan 11:25; cf. Isa 51:16. Asherah, the symbol of Astarte (see at Exo 34:13), cannot mean either a green tree or a grove (as Movers, Relig. der Phnizier, p. 572, supposes), for the simple reason that in other passages we find the words עשׂה, make ( Kg1 14:15; Kg1 16:33; Kg2 17:16; Kg2 21:3; Ch2 33:3), or הצּיב, set up ( Kg2 17:10), העמיד, stand up ( Ch2 33:19), and בּנה, build ( Kg1 14:23), used to denote the erection of an asherah, not one of which is at all suitable to a tree or grove. But what is quite decisive is the fact that in Kg1 14:23;…”