Daf Yomi Avodah Zarah 52

The daf for 3/8/18 comes from Meseches Avodah Zarah 52. There is an interesting statement made in the middle of a discussion about the vessels used for idol worship (translation from Sefaria.org The William Davidson digital edition of the Koren Noe Talmud Bavli):

What is an asherah tree? Biblical scholars have associated Asherah (feminine) with both a Canaanite and Ugaritic goddess-cult as well as a symbolic pole used for pagan worship. We see a reference to asherah in the first book of Kings (chapter 14:15,22,23 ; translation from Sefaria.org The Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures by JPS):

In these verses, we see asherah translated as “sacred posts”. The interesting thing in the gemara is the association of appointing unqualified judges with the planting of asherim! The Rambam in his Mishneh Torah, Sefer Shoftim sets out some of the concepts for appointing judges (from Sefaria.org, public domain sourcing English translation by Moses Hymanson, 1937):

It is interesting to compare the method described by Maimonides with the “Western” method. The subject of judging and penalties in the Talmud was covered in Meseches Sanhedrin and will not be discussed here.