The Fifth Book of Moses, called Deuteronomy
Deuteronomy 12
Chapter XII · Vol. I, pp. 500–501
1 Monuments of idolatry are to be destroyed. 4 The place of God's service is to be kept. 15, 23 Blood is forbidden. 17, 20, 26 Holy things must be eaten in the holy place. 19 The Levite is not to be forsaken. 29 Idolatrous practices are not to be inquired after.
1 THESE are the astatutes and judgments which ye shall observe to do bin the land which the LORD God of thy fathers giveth thee to possess it, call the days that ye live upon the earth.
a ch. 4.1,2,5,6,9; 5.1; 6.1-3; xii.-xxvii.
b Nu. 15.1. ch. 4.1.
c ch. 11.1. 1 Ki. 8.40. Ps. 104.33. Job 17.9. Pr. 4.18.
2 Yed shall utterly destroy all the places wherein the nations which ye shall possess1 served their gods, upon the high emountains, and upon the hills, and under every green tree.
d ch. 7.5,25. Ex. 23.24; 34.12-17. Nu. 33.51,52. Ju. 2.2. 2 Ki. 18.4; 23.6,14. 1 Ch. 14.12.
1 Or, inherit.
e Nu. 22.4. 2 Ki. 17.10,11. Je. 3.6. Eze. 20.28,29. Ho. 4.13.
3 And ye shall overthrow2 their altars, and break their pillars, and burn their groves with fire; and ye shall hew down the graven images of their gods, fand destroy the names of them out of that place.
2 Heb. break down.
f Ex. 23.13. Ps. 16.4. Zec. 13.2. Is. 2.18,20; 30.22.
4 Ye gshall not do so unto the LORD your God.3
g ver. 30,31; ch. 16.21,22; 20.18. Le. 20.23.
3 Ye shall not erect altars, or statues, or high places, to Jehovah. Ye shall not set up his worship in any of the idolatrous sanctuaries of the land.—P.
5 But hunto the place which the LORD your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put his name there, even unto his ihabitation4 shall ye seek, and thither thou shalt come:
h ver. 11. Ps. 78.67,68. 1 Ki. 8.16,29; 14.21. 2 Ch. 7.12. 2 Ki. 21.4. Da. 9.18. Jos. 9.27.
i Ex. 25.22. Nu. 7.89; 27.2. Le. 17.8,9. Jos. 18.1. Ps. 80.1; 76.1,2; 87.1,3; 78.60,68,69; 132.13,14.
4 The divine institutions of Moses all looked forward to a fixed place of worship, instead of the movable tabernacle constructed in the wilderness; and while they inculcated the worship of God in spirit everywhere—saying, 'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart'—yet certain outward acts of worship were strictly reserved for one place. This precaution was intended to guard against the inventions of will-worship and peril of idolatry, while it also typified the merging of all divine institutions into the one temple of the 'body of Christ,' and the concentrating of all worshippers around his one sacrifice, Jn. 2.21. Re. 7.15; 21.22.—C.
6 And kthither ye shall bring your burnt-offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and heave-offerings of your hand, and your vows, and your free-will-offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and of your flocks:
k Le. 17.3,5,9; 27.32. Eze. 20.40. ver. 11,17,18; ch. 14.22,23; 26.2; 15.19,20. Nu. 18.15,17.
7 And there ye lshall eat before the LORD your God;5 and ye mshall rejoice in all that ye put your hand unto, ye and your households, wherein the LORD thy God hath blessed thee.
l Nu. 18.10. ver. 12,18.
5 One great object of the Mosaic ordinances was to associate the idea of God's goodness and presence with food, so that every call of bodily hunger or thirst might lead the soul to hunger and thirst after his righteousness, and that every gratification of the appetite might lift up the heart in thankfulness to the Giver of all good.—C.
m Ps. 128.2. ch. 15.10; 23.20; 28.3-13. Le. 26.3-13.
8 Ye shall nnot do after all the things that we do here this day, every man whatsoever is right in his own eyes.
n Am. 5.25. Ac. 7.42. 2 Sa. 19.6. 1 Ch. 13.4. Ju. 17.6; 21.25.
9 For ye are not as yet come to the rest oand to the inheritance which the LORD your God giveth you.6
o 1 Ki. 8.56. 1 Ch. 23.25. He. 4.3,9,10. Mat. 11.28,29. Is. 57.2. Re. 14.13.
6 It seems that when the Israelites were in the wilderness, many of the ceremonial observances enjoined in the law were omitted. It was often matter of necessity to do so. To these violations reference is made here; and it is stated that when settled down in Canaan all such violations and omissions should cease. There would no longer be any excuse or plea for them.—P.
10 But when ye go over Jordan, and dwell in the land which the LORD your God giveth you to inherit, and when he giveth you rest from all your enemies round about, so that pye dwell in safety;
p Ex. 34.24. Le. 25.18,19. Ju. 8.11; 18.7. 1 Ki. 4.25.
11 Then there shall be qa place which the LORD your God shall choose to cause his name to dwell there: thither shall ye bring all that I command you; your burnt-offerings, and your sacrifices, your tithes, and the heave-offering of your hand, and all your choice7 vows which ye vow unto the LORD.
q ver. 5,6,14. Je. 7.12. Jos. 18.1. 1 Ki. 8.13-44. Ps. 78.60,67-69. 2 Ch. 6.6; 8.16; 33.7.
7 Heb. the choice of your vows.
12 And ye shall rrejoice before the LORD your God, ye, and your sons, and your daughters, and your men-servants, and your maid-servants, and the Levite that is within your gates; forasmuch as he hath sno part nor inheritance with you.
r ver. 7,18,19. Ne. 8.10. Ex. 23.14-17; 34.23,24. 1 Sa. 1.3,4. ch. 14.26,27; 10.9.
s Nu. 18.20,23,24; 26.62. ch. 10.9; 14.27,29; 18.1,2.
13 Taket heed to thyself, that thou offer not thy burnt-offerings in every place that thou seest:
t ver. 6,7,11. Nu. 22.41; 13.1,14,28,29. 1 Ki. 12.28. 2 Ki. 17.9-11.
14 But uin the place which the LORD shall choose in one of thy tribes, there thou shalt offer thy burnt-offerings, and there thou shalt do all that I command thee.
u ver. 5,6,11,13. Ps. 78.60,68,69. ch. 14.23; 15.20; 16.2-16; 17.8; 18.16; 26.2; 31.11. Jos. 18.1. 1 Ki. 8.13,29; 9.3.
15 Notwithstanding thou mayest kill and eat flesh in all thy gates, whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which he hath given thee: xthe unclean and the clean may eat thereof, as of the roe-buck, and as of the hart.
x ver. 22; ch. 15.22; 14.5, all may eat it as common food.
16 Onlyy ye shall not eat the blood; ye shall pour it upon the earth as water.
y ch. 15.23. Ge. 9.4. Le. 17.10,12,13; 3.17; 7.26,27; 19.26. 1 Sa. 14.32. Eze. 33.25. ver. 23-25.
17 Thouz mayest not eat within thy gates the tithe of thy corn, or of thy wine, or of thy oil, or the firstlings of thy herds, or of thy flock, nor any of thy vows which thou vowest, nor thy free-will-offerings, or heave-offering of thine hand:
z ver. 6,7,11-14; ch. 14.22,24. i.e. the second tithe and firstlings.
18 Buta thou must eat them before the LORD thy God in the place which the LORD thy God shall choose, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy man-servant, and thy maid-servant,8 and bthe Levite that is within thy gates: and thou shalt rejoice before the LORD thy God in all that thou puttest thine hands unto.
a ver. 5-7,11,12; ch. 14.23; 15.20.
A.M. 2553. B.C. 1451.
8 Whilst the union of the 'man-servant and maid-servant' in the prohibition of the fourth commandment inculcates the important religious principle that no man should break, through the agency of another, any law of God which he acknowledges himself bound to observe; their still continued union, in the religious ordinances of sacrifice and thanksgiving, inculcates another, even the religious care, tenderness, and sympathy which superiors owe to their servants, so that while the active agents of their earthly labours, they may also be partakers of their spiritual joy.—C.
b ch. 10.9; ver. 19.
19 Takec heed to thyself that thou forsake not the Levite9 as long as thou livest1 upon the earth.
c ch. 14.27. Ne. 10.39. 1 Co. 9.10-14. Ga. 6.6. 1 Ti. 5.17. Mal. 3.8,9.
9 The Levite here spoken of probably is intended to denote those of the Levites that were dispersed in the country to instruct the people. As they had no part, or portion, or inheritance assigned them, as God himself was said to be their portion, as their services in assisting at the worship of God, and teaching the people his law, were of the highest value and importance; justice, gratitude, benevolence, and wisdom alike enforced the duty of kindness to them.—I.
1 Heb. all thy days.
20 When the LORD thy God dshall enlarge thy border, as he hath promised thee, and thou shalt say, I will eat flesh, (because thy soul longeth to eat flesh,) thou mayest eat flesh, whatsoever thy soul lusteth after.
21 If2 the place which the LORD thy God hath chosen to put his name there be too far from thee, then thou shalt kill of thy herd and of thy flock, which the LORD hath given thee, as I have commanded thee, and thou shalt eat in thy gates whatsoever thy soul lusteth after.
2 It seems that in the wilderness they killed all their animals for food at the door of the tabernacle; but that was not required in Canaan.
22 Evene as the roe-buck and the hart is eaten, so thou shalt eat them; the unclean and the clean shall eat of them alike.3
e ver. 15; ch. 14.5; 15.22.
3 This was for the ordinary purposes of food, not as sacrifices. All sacrifices were to be presented at one chosen spot; but animals killed for food might be killed and eaten anywhere.—P.
23 Only be 4sure fthat thou eat not the blood: for the blood is the life; and thou mayest not eat the life with the flesh.
4 Heb. be strong.
f ver. 16. Ge. 9.4. Le. 3.17; 7.26; 17.10-14. ch. 15.23. 1 Sa. 14.32. Eze. 33.25.
24 Thou shalt not eat it; thou shalt pour it upon the earth as water.
25 Thou shalt not eat it; that it may go wellg with thee, and with thy children after thee, when thou shalt do that which is right in the sight of the LORD.
26 Onlyh thy holy things which thou hast, and thy vows, thou shalt take, and go unto the place which the LORD shall choose.
h ver. 6,7,11,18.
27 And thou ishalt offer thy burnt-offerings, the flesh and the blood, upon the altar of the LORD thy God: and the blood of thy ksacrifices shall be poured out upon the altar of the LORD thy God, and thou shalt eat the flesh.
i Le. 1.5,8,13.
k Peace-offering, Le. i. iii; 7.15. Nu. vii. 1 Ki. 8.63. ver. 7.
28 Observel and hear all these words which I command thee, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee for ever, when thou doest that which is good and right in the sight of the LORD thy God.
l Mat. 28.20. 1 Co. 15.58. ver. 1,25. Ps. 19.11. Is. 3.10; 1.19. Tit. 2.11,12; 3.8. 1 Ti. 4.8.
29 Whenm the LORD thy God shall cut off the nations from before thee, whither thou goest to possess them, and thou succeedest5 them, and dwellest in their land,
30 Taken heed to thyself, that thou be not snared by following6 them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou inquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise.7
n ch. 7.4,16,25,26. Ex. 23.13,33. Le. 18.3. Ju. 2.2,3. Nu. 33.52. Ps. 106.34-38; 16.4. Eze. 20.28. 1 Jn. 5.21. 1 Th. 5.26. ver. 3,4.
6 Heb. after them.
7 The heathen in general believed that each country, city, and village had a special or tutelary deity, which watched over its welfare; and that in order to prosper, that deity must be propitiated by appropriate offerings.—P.
31 Thouo shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God: for every abomination8 to the LORD which he hateth have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have pburnt in the fire to their gods.9
o ver. 4.
8 Heb. abomination of the.
p Le. 18.21; 20.2. Je. 7.31; 32.35. Eze. 20.31; 23.37. Mi. 6.7. ch. 18.10.
9 This horrible worship was notoriously practised by the Carthaginians, a people who had emigrated from Canaan. Christians can now scarcely imagine such combined folly and wickedness possible. But, alas! if they look around them on society, do they not see 'sons and daughters' as recklessly sacrificed to the 'pomps and vanities,' and 'fashion of this world that passeth away,' 1 Co. 7.31.—C.
32 Whatq thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.
q ch. 4.2; 13.18; 5.29,32; 11.32,33. Jos. 1.7. Pr. 30.6. Re. 22.18,19. Mat. 28.20.
Notes
[Ver. 12. Ye shall rejoice. The Mosaic institutions had their days 'to afflict the soul,' because of sin, but their general aspect was joy, because of righteousness. Nor was this joy merely personal, but extended to all the household, embracing in its benevolence the Levite, the widow, the poor, and the stranger —Note, Family religion is an indispensable Christian duty, but to be efficient it must be united with that 'charity which is kind,' and instead of being exhibited in moroseness or austerity of aspect, manner, or government, should be conducted with that 'joy in the Holy Ghost' that 'adorns the gospel of God our Saviour,' and governs the household by the authority of love, rather than by the hand of power. C.]
Reflections.—Abominable to God is all will-worship. And it is impossible to reconcile the worship of God and mammon—of Christ and Belial. But, in the best-ordered churches on earth, something will still be defective. Perfect purity is reserved for the heavenly Canaan: and therefore, in cases of necessity, some ordinances of worship may be omitted, which in other circumstances would render us highly culpable. The excellency of worship lies not in any pompous form, but in its exact correspondence with God's prescriptions. Let me then not merely cease from evil, but learn to do well. Let me attend to, and improve, every instituted ordinance of fellowship with God. Let his institutions, not any custom or law of men, whether under the best or the worst of governments, be the standard of my religious observances. Let not only my solemn eating and drinking at his table, but even my ordinary refreshments, be conducted according to his prescriptions, and intended chiefly for his glory. And never should his ministers be straitened, or his poor starved, while I am able to relieve them.