Deuteronomy 16:16-22

4. GENERAL RULES FOR OBSERVANCE
(Deuteronomy 16:16-17; Deuteronomy 16:21-22; Deuteronomy 17:1)

16 Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before Jehovah thy God in the place which he shall choose: in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles; and they shall not appear before Jehovah empty: 17 every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of Jehovah thy God which he hath given thee.

21 Thou shalt not plant thee an Asherah of any kind of tree beside the altar of Jehovah thy God, which thou shalt make thee. 22 Neither shalt thou set thee up a pillar; which Jehovah thy God hateth.
Thou shalt not sacrifice unto Jehovah thy God an ox, or a sheep, wherein is a blemish, or any thing evil; for that is an abomination unto Jehovah thy God.

THOUGHT QUESTIONS 16:16, 17, 21, 22; 17:1

285.

To what place does Deuteronomy 16:16 allude?

286.

What was to be given by every man? In what attitude?

287.

What a strange prohibition! Who would consider such a strange admixture of Jehovah and Asherah? Cf. Deuteronomy 16:21.

288.

If a man did not have a healthy animal to offer to the Lord what should he do?

AMPLIFIED TRANSLATION 16:16, 17, 21, 22; 17:1

16 Three times a year shall all your males appear before the Lord your God in the place which He chooses, in the feast of unleavened bread, in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles or booths. They shall not appear before the Lord empty-handed;
17 Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God which He has given you.
21 You shall not plant you any kind of tree as an Asherah beside the altar of the Lord your God which you shall make.
22 Neither shall you set up an idolatrous stone or image, which the Lord your God hates.
You shall not sacrifice to the Lord your God an ox or sheep with a blemish or any defect whatever; for that is an abomination to the Lord your God.

COMMENT 16:16, 17, 21, 22; 17:1

EVERY MAN SHALL GIVE AS HE IS ABLE (Deuteronomy 16:17)This was true of the giving required at these feasts (whether the offerings specified were for the particular feast, or free-will offerings) and all through the ages. Paul asked each Corinthian Christian to lay by him in store, as he may prosper (1 Corinthians 16:2). For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according as a man hath, not according as he hath not (See 2 Corinthians 8:3; 2 Corinthians 8:12).

THOU SHALT NOT PLANT THEE AN ASHERAH OF ANY KIND OF TREE BESIDE THE ALTAR (Deuteronomy 16:21)See Deuteronomy 7:2; Deuteronomy 7:5, notes; Deuteronomy 12:1-4. An Asherah of any kind of tree (or, as otherwise rendered, an asherah [or pole] of any wood) has reference to the idols of wood that were made to this female diety. The commentators are not altogether agreed as to whether the name Asherah is the name of a distinct goddess, as well as the -poles,-' -stumps,-' or -stems-' which represented her; or whether the notorious -Ashtoreth-' (Astarte) was herself worshipped under these obscene images.[34] In any case the rites associated with the Asherahs were immoralinvolving the glorificationeven dieficationof sexual passion.

[34] Rotherham, in a Special Note on the Destruction of the Canaanite Nations. It is difficult to find cultured words to express the grossness of the immorality associated with these idols.

Note here that God did not want his worship associated in any way with idolatry and such sensual and evil rites as accompanied it. Yet there was apparently the possibility that there would be an attempt to blend the true religion of God with the Asherah. So the later statements that Israel feared Jehovah and served other gods.

THOU SHALT NOT SACRIFICE. OX. SHEEP, WHEREIN IS A BLEMISH (Deuteronomy 17:1)See also Deuteronomy 15:21, Leviticus 22:19-25. It seems probable that this exhortation was given in connection with the sacrifices to be offered at the three major festivals just mentioned.

Such animals could be eaten, but not sacrificed to God. There is surely a parallel here between what God demanded in an Old Testament sacrifice, and the life he expects us, through Christ, to give to him as a Christian. We are to present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God (See Romans 12:1-2). And how thankful we can be that the perfect sacrifice of Christ compensates for our imperfection!