Midrash · Halachah
Sifrei Devarim 145/ספרי דברים קמ״ה
א(דברים טז כא) לֹא תִטַּע לְךָ אֲשֵׁרָה כָּל עֵץ, מְלַמֵּד שֶׁכָּל הַנּוֹטֵעַ אֲשֵׁרָה עוֹבֵר בְּלֹא תַעֲשֶׂה. וּמִנַּיִן לַנּוֹטֵעַ אִילָן בְּהַר הַבַּיִת שֶׁהוּא עוֹבֵר בְּלֹא תַעֲשֶׂה? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: כָּל עֵץ אֵצֶל מִזְבַּח ה׳ אֱלֹהֶיךָ.
1Pisqa’ 145101. “Do not plant for yourself an Asherah of any wood”11 In biblical Hebrew, `eitz identifies both a “tree” and its “wood.” (Dt. 16:21).This teaches that whoever plants an Asherah anywhere,transgresses a proscription.And how do I know thatone who plants any tree12, is a loan-word from Aramaic and is common in rabbinic Hebrew as the general designation for “tree.” I know of no instances where ‘ilan designates “wood.” In rabbinic Aramaic “wood” is generally signified by `a`a (Jastrow:99). on the Mount of the Abodetransgresses a proscription?The Teaching states:“Of any wood, near the Altar of HASHEM your God” (Dt. 16:21).
ברַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר בֶּן יַעֲקֹב אוֹמֵר: מִנַּיִן שֶׁאֵין עוֹשִׂים אַכְסַדְרָה בָּעֲזָרָה? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: כָּל עֵץ אֵצֶל מִזְבַּח ה׳ אֱלֹהֶיךָ, כְּשֶׁהוּא אוֹמֵר: אֲשֶׁר תַּעֲשֶׂה לָּךְ – לְרַבּוֹת בָּמָה.
22. R. Eliezer b. Jacob says:How do I know thatthey may not build a [wooden] porticoin the Courtyard [of the Abode]?The Teaching states:“Of any wood . . . near the Altar” (Dt. 16:21).When He says:“Which you will make for yourself” (Dt. 16:21)—this includes [planting an Asherah near] a cultic shrine[outside of Jerusalem].
גלֹא תִטַּע לְךָ אֲשֵׁרָה, אָמְרָה תּוֹרָה (דברים יב ג): ״וַאֲשֵׁרֵיהֶם תִּשְׂרְפוּן בָּאֵשׁ״ – קַל וָחוֹמֶר שֶׁלֹּא יִטַּע! וּמִנַּיִן שֶׁלֹּא יְקַיֵּם? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: לֹא תִטַּע לְךָ – מִכָּל מָקוֹם.
33. “Do not plant for yourself an Asherah” (Dt. 16:21).The Torah elsewhere teaches:“And burn their Asherahs in fire” (Dt. 12:3)—the proscription of planting [an Asherah]is a logical deduction[from the command to burn any Asherahthat has already been planted].But how do I know thatwe may not maintain an Asherah [prior to burning it]?The Teaching states:“Do not plant for yourself” (Dt. 16:21)—any type of maintenance [is proscribed].
דדָּבָר אַחֵר: אֲפִלּוּ בַּיִת, אֲפִלּוּ
44. Another word:Even a house[that sheltered an Asherah must be burned];even a Festival Hut.13