Matthew Henry Commentary Deuteronomy 16:18-22

"Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which Jehovah thy God giveth thee, according to thy tribes; and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment. Thou shalt not wrest justice: thou shalt not respect persons; neither shalt thou take a bribe; for a bribe doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous. That which is altogether just shalt thou follow, that thou mayest live, and inherit the land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee. Thou shalt not plant thee an Asherah of any kind of tree beside the altar of Jehovah thy God, which thou shalt make thee. Neither shalt thou set thee up a pillar; which Jehovah thy God hateth." — Deuteronomy 16:18-22 (ASV)

Care is taken for the due administration of justice. All partiality must be set aside, so that right is done to all, and wrong to none.

Care is also taken to prevent following the idolatrous customs of pagans. Nothing misrepresents God more, or tends more to corrupt human minds, than representing and worshipping, by an image, that God, who is an almighty and eternal Spirit, present everywhere. Alas! Even in gospel days, and under a better dispensation, established upon better promises, there is a tendency to set up idols, in one form or another, in the human heart.