Derasha 4 on Shoftim 16:21

TT #18 · Parashas Shoftim · First Aliyah · Passuk 21

The Complete Passuk

לֹֽא־תִטַּ֥ע לְךָ֛ אֲשֵׁרָ֖ה כׇּל־עֵ֑ץ אֵ֗צֶל מִזְבַּ֛ח יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר תַּעֲשֶׂה־לָּֽךְ׃

You shall not set up a sacred post — any kind of pole beside the altar of the Eternal your God that you may make.

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Avodah Zarah (the derasha on the requirement of genizah for an asherah of Israel).

Sefaria · Avodah Zarah

Core Text of Chazal

אמר רב חסדא אמר רב, מניין לעבודת כוכבים של ישראל שטעונה גניזה, שנאמר לא תטע לך אשרה כל עץ אצל מזבח, מה מזבח טעון גניזה אף אשרה טעונה גניזה.

English: Rav Chisda said in the name of Rav: From where do we know that an idol of an Israelite requires genizah (burial/disposal)? From the verse “You shall not plant for yourself an asherah — any tree beside the altar.” Just as the altar requires genizah, so too an asherah requires genizah.

On the daf / in context

The comparison of the asherah to the altar is used to derive that an idolatrous object belonging to a Jew must be disposed of in the same manner as sacred objects that are no longer usable.

Type of Learning

Derash on the verse (Bavli) — not a formal named middah of the 13. The adjacency to the altar creates a gezerah-shavah-like comparison for the law of disposal.

What Is Learned

An asherah (or idol) belonging to a Jew must be disposed of by genizah, just as sacred Temple objects that lose their status require genizah.