In the biblical context, "groves" often refer to places associated with idol worship and pagan rituals. The term is frequently linked to the Hebrew word "Asherah," which denotes both a Canaanite goddess and the wooden symbols or poles representing her. These groves were typically located on high places or under large trees, serving as sites for idolatrous practices that were expressly forbidden by the God of Israel.

The worship of idols in groves is a recurring theme in the Old Testament, highlighting the spiritual apostasy of the Israelites when they turned away from the worship of Yahweh. The groves were often set up alongside altars dedicated to Baal and other deities, reflecting the syncretistic practices that plagued Israel throughout its history.

Biblical References:

1. Deuteronomy 16:21 : "Do not set up any wooden Asherah pole beside the altar you build to the LORD your God." This command underscores the prohibition against incorporating pagan symbols into the worship of Yahweh, emphasizing the need for purity in worship.

2. Judges 3:7 : "And the Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORD. They forgot the LORD their God and served the Baals and the Asherahs." This verse illustrates the spiritual decline of the Israelites as they adopted the idolatrous practices of the surrounding nations, including the worship in groves.

3. 1 Kings 14:23 : "For they also built for themselves high places, sacred pillars, and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree." This passage describes the widespread establishment of groves and other idolatrous sites during the reign of King Jeroboam, highlighting the pervasive nature of idol worship in Israel.

4. 2 Kings 17:10 : "They set up for themselves sacred pillars and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree." This verse further emphasizes the extent to which the Israelites engaged in idolatry, despite the clear commandments against such practices.

5. 2 Chronicles 14:3 : "He removed the foreign altars and high places, shattered the sacred pillars, and chopped down the Asherah poles." This account of King Asa's reforms demonstrates the efforts of some righteous leaders to eradicate idol worship and restore the worship of Yahweh.

The presence of groves as centers of idol worship was a significant issue for the Israelites, often leading to divine judgment and calls for repentance. The prophets frequently condemned these practices, urging the people to return to the exclusive worship of the one true God. The groves, therefore, symbolize the spiritual infidelity of the Israelites and serve as a cautionary reminder of the dangers of compromising one's faith with the surrounding culture.Deuteronomy 12:2
You shall utterly destroy all the places, wherein the nations which you shall possess served their gods, on the high mountains, and on the hills, and under every green tree:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Josiah
... had broken down the altars and the groves, and had ... powder, and cut down all the idols
throughout all ... names both their idolatry and their Jehovah-worship were. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/josiah.htm

Obadiah
... as ever to her idols; the false prophets of Baal were four hundred and fifty men,
and the prophets of the groves (where the stars were worshipped) four hundred ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/town and country sermons/sermon ix obadiah.htm

The Apostle of the Gentiles.
... their time in the porticos and groves, arguing on ... Unknown God Whom they already
worshipped in ignorance. ... trade would be ruined if idols were deserted, stirred ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson xxii the apostle of.htm

Letter Xlvi. (AD 398. )
... wood which he knows to have been taken from one of their idols' groves? ... came to Isaac,
and he and those who were with him ... [1669] As to the idols, Gideon was ...
/.../augustine/the confessions and letters of st/letter xlvi a d 398.htm

How Amon Reigned Instead of Manasseh; and after Amon Reigned ...
... and the whole country, and cut down the groves which were ... abroad, and slew the priests
of the idols that were ... away the chariots [of the sun] that were set up ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 4 how amon reigned.htm

A Kingdom's Epitaph
... And they set them up images and groves in every ... For they served idols, whereof the
Lord had said unto ... vain, and went after the heathen that were round about ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/a kingdoms epitaph.htm

Reform
... gods; next, cut down the very groves in which ... Africa alone that false gods are
worshipped; idols are worshipped ... The Pharisees were the high priests of this god ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/reform.htm

On Idolatry
... by building temples, high places or groves by erecting ... 17:4; xviii, 31.) Among the
"dumb idols" unto which ... the apostle says, the Corinthians "were carried away ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 1/disputation 23 on idolatry.htm

Elijah the Great Heart of Israel.
... fifty prophets of Baal, and the four hundred prophets of the groves. ... hear him, and
show the people that they were called from the worship of idols to the ...
/.../lathbury/childs story of the bible/chapter xxvii elijah the great.htm

Mongrel Religion
... Their hearts go after their idols, but to Jehovah they ... most bitter opponents of that
godly man were those mongrels. ... set up their altars in the groves, and upon ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 27 1881/mongrel religion.htm

Who was Asherah / Ashtoreth? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Gehazi in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

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