You
shall break down their altars, dash their pillars in pieces, and cut down their Asherah poles, and burn their engraved images with fire.
Deuteronomy 7:5
Deuteronomy 7 [1.] When Yahweh your God brings you into the land where you go to possess it, and casts out many nations before you, the Hittite, the Girgashite, the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, seven nations greater and mightier than you; and when Yahweh your God delivers them up before you, and you strike them; then you shall utterly destroy them. You shall make no covenant with them, nor show mercy to them; neither shall you make marriages with them. You shall not give your daughter to his son, nor shall you take his daughter for your son. For he will turn away your son from following me, that they may serve other gods. So Yahweh’s anger would be kindled against you, and he would destroy you quickly.
Deuteronomy 7 [5.] But you shall deal with them like this. You shall break down their altars, dash their pillars in pieces, and cut down their Asherah poles, and burn their engraved images with fire. For you are a holy people to Yahweh your God. Yahweh your God has chosen you to be a people for his own possession, above all peoples who are on the face of the earth. Yahweh didn’t set his love on you, nor choose you, because you were more in number than any people; for you were the fewest of all peoples: but because Yahweh loves you, and because he desires to keep the oath which he swore to your fathers, Yahweh has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
Meaning:
This verse is part of God’s instructions to the Israelites as they prepare to enter and conquer the Promised Land. It underscores the importance of complete separation from the idolatrous practices of the Canaanites, and it emphasizes the need for radical action against anything that could lead the Israelites into unfaithfulness to God.
Deuteronomy 7 is a chapter where Moses, speaking on behalf of God, outlines the commands and expectations for the Israelites as they prepare to enter Canaan. The Canaanite nations were known for their idolatrous practices, which included worshiping various deities through rituals that were not only contrary to the worship of Yahweh but also morally and spiritually corrupt. God’s command in this chapter is clear: the Israelites are to completely destroy these nations and everything associated with their religious practices.
In verses 1-4, God instructs the Israelites not to make any covenants with these nations, nor to intermarry with them, because these relationships would lead them away from worshiping God and into idolatry. The warning is that such alliances would cause the Israelites to adopt pagan customs and forsake their covenant with God. Deuteronomy 7:5 then provides specific actions the Israelites are to take against the religious symbols and places of worship of these nations.
- The Command to Destroy Idolatrous Symbols
"You shall break down their altars": The altars of the Canaanites were central to their worship practices. These altars were where they offered sacrifices to their gods. By commanding the Israelites to break them down, God was instructing them to remove the physical structures that facilitated idol worship.
Breaking Down Altars: This act of destruction symbolizes a rejection of false worship and a refusal to allow any continuation of these pagan practices in the land that God was giving to the Israelites. It was a clear statement that the worship of Yahweh could not coexist with the worship of other gods.
"Dash their pillars in pieces": The pillars were likely stone or wooden structures that served as symbols of the Canaanite gods or as markers for places of worship. Smashing these pillars was a way of eradicating the visible symbols of the false gods.
Destroying Symbols of Idolatry: By dashing the pillars to pieces, the Israelites were to eliminate the reminders and temptations of Canaanite religion. These pillars could easily become objects of curiosity or veneration, leading the people back into idolatry. The complete destruction of these symbols was necessary to ensure that the land remained pure and dedicated to the worship of Yahweh alone.
"Cut down their Asherim": Asherim were wooden poles or trees associated with the worship of the goddess Asherah, a fertility deity worshiped by the Canaanites and other ancient Near Eastern peoples. The presence of these poles was a direct affront to the worship of Yahweh.
Eradicating Pagan Rituals: The cutting down of Asherim was particularly important because these objects were not just symbolic; they were actively used in the worship rituals of the Canaanites. Removing them was essential to prevent the Israelites from being drawn into these pagan practices.
"Burn their engraved images with fire": The engraved images were idols, often made of wood, stone, or metal, representing the gods and goddesses of the Canaanites. Burning these images was an act of total destruction, ensuring that nothing remained of these idols.
Complete Annihilation of Idolatry: Burning the idols was the final step in the total eradication of idolatry from the land. Fire, in this context, was not only a means of destruction but also a purifying force, symbolizing the cleansing of the land from the defilement of idol worship.
The Broader Theological Implications
Deuteronomy 7:5 emphasizes several key theological principles that are central to the relationship between God and His people:
Exclusive Worship of God: The command to destroy the altars, pillars, Asherim, and images underscores the importance of exclusive worship. God’s covenant with Israel was based on the premise that He alone was to be worshiped. Allowing any form of idolatry to persist would violate this covenant and lead to spiritual corruption.
Holiness and Purity: The instructions in this verse highlight the need for holiness and purity among God’s people. The land that God was giving them was to be a place where His name was honored and His commands were followed. Idolatry, in any form, would defile the land and the people. Therefore, complete destruction of these objects was necessary to maintain the purity that God required.
Active Opposition to Evil: The commands in Deuteronomy 7:5 are not passive; they require active opposition to the practices and symbols of evil. God’s people are called to take decisive action against anything that could lead them into sin. This principle extends beyond the physical destruction of idols to include a proactive stance against anything that threatens our spiritual well-being.
Application for Us Today
While we may not face the same physical idols that the Israelites did, the principles in Deuteronomy 7:5 still apply to our spiritual lives:
Identifying and Removing Modern Idols: Modern idolatry can take many forms, such as the pursuit of wealth, power, status, or even relationships that take precedence over our relationship with God. This verse challenges us to identify anything in our lives that competes with our devotion to God and to take decisive action to remove it.
Maintaining Spiritual Purity: Just as the Israelites were commanded to keep their land free from idolatry, we are called to maintain spiritual purity in our lives. This means being vigilant about what we allow into our hearts and minds, ensuring that nothing corrupts our relationship with God.
Being Proactive in Faith: The command to destroy idols and symbols of false worship requires action. In our own lives, this means actively seeking to align our lives with God’s will, resisting temptations, and taking steps to grow in holiness.
Cross-References:
Exodus 34:13: "But you shall break down their altars, and dash in pieces their pillars, and you shall cut down their Asherim." This verse echoes the commands in Deuteronomy 7:5, emphasizing the need for thorough destruction of anything associated with idolatry.
Judges 6:25-26: "That same night, Yahweh said to him, 'Take your father’s bull, the second bull seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that your father has, and cut down the Asherah that is by it; and build an altar to Yahweh your God on the top of this stronghold in an orderly way.'" Here, Gideon is commanded to destroy his father’s altar to Baal and the associated Asherah pole, illustrating the ongoing struggle against idolatry even within Israel.
2 Corinthians 6:16-17: "What agreement has a temple of God with idols? For you are a temple of the living God. Even as God said, 'I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they will be my people.' Therefore, 'Come out from among them, and be separate,' says the Lord. 'Touch no unclean thing. I will receive you.'" In the New Testament, Paul applies the principle of separation from idolatry to the Christian life, calling believers to remain pure and devoted to God alone.
Conclusion: Deuteronomy 7:5 is a powerful reminder of the importance of exclusive devotion to God and the need for active opposition to anything that could lead us away from Him. The commands to break down altars, dash pillars, cut down Asherim, and burn idols with fire underscore the seriousness with which God views idolatry and the lengths to which His people must go to remain faithful. As we reflect on this verse, we are called to examine our own lives, identify any "idols" that may have taken root, and take bold steps to remove them, ensuring that our devotion to God remains pure and undivided.
PIB Scriptures are derived from the World English Bible