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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Deuteronomy 12:5-32

There is not any one particular precept (as I remember) in all the law of Moses so largely pressed and inculcated as this, by which they are all tied to bring their sacrifices to that one altar which was set up in the court of the tabernacle, and there to perform all the rituals of their religion; for, as to moral services, then, no doubt, as now, men might pray every where, as they did in their synagogues. The command to do this, and the prohibition of the contrary, are here repeated again... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 12:11

Then there shall be a place ,.... Fixed and settled, and will be known to be the place: which the Lord your God shall choose, to cause his name to dwell there : where he himself would dwell, and where his name would be called, and he would be worshipped: thither shall ye bring all that I command you, your burnt offerings and your sacrifices, your tithes, and the heave offerings of your hands ; of which See Gill on Deuteronomy 12:6 . and all your choice vows which ye vow unto the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 12:12

And ye shall rejoice before the Lord your God ,.... In the place chosen and fixed, where a temple would be built for him, and he would take up his residence; eating with joy and gladness that part of the offerings which belonged to them, keeping as it were a feast before the Lord, in token of gratitude for what they had received from him: ye and your sons, and your daughters, and your menservants, and your maidservants ; which explains what is meant by their household, Deuteronomy 12:7 ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 12:13

Take heed to thyself, that thou offer not thy burnt offerings ,.... And so any other, this is put for all the rest: in every place that thou seest ; which might take with their fancy, seem pleasant, and so a proper and suitable place to sacrifice in, as on high places, and under green trees; but they were not to indulge their own fancies and imaginations, or follow the customs of others, but keep to the rules prescribed them by the Lord, and to the place fixed by him for his worship. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 12:14

But in the place which the Lord shall choose in one of thy tribes ,.... Which tribe is not named, nor what place in that tribe; See Gill on Deuteronomy 12:5 , there thou shalt offer thy burnt offerings ; on the altar of burnt offering there placed: and there shalt thou do all that I command thee ; respecting sanctuary service, and particularly those things observed in Deuteronomy 12:6 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 12:14

The place which the Lord shall choose - To prevent idolatry and bring about a perfect uniformity in the Divine worship, which at that time was essentially necessary; because every rite and ceremony had a determinate meaning, and pointed out the good things which were to come, therefore one place must be established where those rites and ceremonies should be carefully and punctually observed. Had it not been so, every man would have formed his worship according to his own mind, and the whole... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 12:1-32

EXPOSITION Deuteronomy 12:1-32 . PLACES AND MONUMENTS OF IDOLATRY TO BE DESTROYED ; JEHOVAH TO BE WORSHIPPED IN THE ONE PLACE WHICH HE SHALL CHOOSE ; INSTRUCTIONS AS TO THE USE OF FLESH FOR FOOD ; AND CAUTIONS AGAINST BEING ENSNARED INTO FOLLOWING THE HEATHEN IN THEIR MANNER OF SERVICE . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 12:1-32

Regulations for Divine worship: specific rules embodying permanent principles. With this twelfth chapter an entirely new set of instructions begins. Up to this point the exhortations have been for the most part moral: now they are positive. Hitherto the precepts have been, speaking generally, concerning duties which God commanded because they were right; but from this point they concern duties which became right because God had commanded them. Of all specific directions which Moses gave to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 12:4-14

Centralization in worship. It is quite unnecessary that we should here enter upon the criticism which has been raging upon this important passage, as indicating something post-Mosaic. The directions in Exodus do not necessarily imply a multiplicity of altars at the same time, but rather successive alterations of locality in conformity with the requirements of the pilgrimage. Besides, the genius of the Jewish worship implied the centralization of it in contrast to the multiplicity of places... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 12:5-28

Characteristic signs of Jehovah's worship. All the religious institutions of Moses were bulwarks against the idolatry of the period, and were admirably suited to the intellectual and moral condition of the people. The worship of the true God was characterized by— I. A SINGLE , GOD - SELECTED SHRINE . As the heathen had gods many, they had plurality of temples, altars, and shrines. The single, central temple of Jehovah promoted at least two worthy objects. 1. It kept alive... read more

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