Deuteronomy 16:21-23

Deuteronomy 16:21 to Deuteronomy 17:7. Isolated Group of Laws on Worship

This group of laws against heathen symbols and blemished sacrifices and the worship of other gods all of them abominations to, or hated by, Jehovah is quite isolated, between two sets of laws on judicial procedure, Deuteronomy 16:18-20 and Deuteronomy 17:8 ff.; and we have seen reasons (above p. 173) for supposing that the whole group originally stood between Deuteronomy 12:29-31 and Deuteronomy 13:1-18. The notes below will show that there are both similarities and dissimilarities between the two separated sections. The reason which Steuernagel gives for supposing that Deuteronomy 16:21 is by another author than that of ch. 12, with a different aim of reform viz. because he speaks only of an altarand does not use the formulas found in 12 for the One Altaris not convincing. With regard to this and the other dissimilarities of the present section from Deuteronomy 12:29 to Deuteronomy 13:18 it must be remembered that within the latter there are also dissimilarities. Throughout the form of address is in the Sg.: there are some editorial additions.