Deuteronomy 12:2-4

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Deuteronomy 12:1-4

From those great original truths, That there is a God, and that there is but one God, arise those great fundamental laws, That that God is to be worshipped, and he only, and that therefore we are to have no other God before him: this is the first commandment, and the second is a guard upon it, or a hedge about it. To prevent a revolt to false gods, we are forbidden to worship the true God in such a way and manner as the false gods were worshipped in, and are commanded to observe the instituted... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 12:2

Ye shall utterly destroy all the places wherein the nations which ye shall possess served their gods ,.... The temples erected for the worship of them by the Canaanites, of which there were many, as appears by the various names of places given them from the temples in them, as Bethshemesh, Bethbaalmeon, Bethpeor, and others: upon the high mountains and upon the hills : which they chose to worship on, being nearer the heavens, and which they thought most acceptable to their gods; and some... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 12:3

And you shall overthrow their altars ,.... Which were of stone, as Jarchi observes; whereas the altar ordered to be made by the Lord, before the altar of burnt offering in the tabernacle was made, was of earth, Exodus 20:24 these were to be demolished, lest the Israelites should be tempted to make use of them; and besides, the Lord would not have any remains of idolatry in the land where his tabernacle and worship were, as being abominable to him: and break down their pillars ; or... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 12:4

Ye shall not do so unto the Lord your God. Not sacrifice to him on hills and mountains, and under green trees; though the Jews commonly refer this to the destruction of the names of God, and of any thing appertaining to the temple; that though the temples and the altars of the Heathens were to be overthrown, yet not a stone was to be taken from the house of God, or that belonged to it, nor any of his names to be blotted out; so the Targum of Jonathan and Maimonides F26 Yesode Hattorah,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 12:3

Ye shall overthrow their altars - Where unholy sacrifices have been offered; and break their pillars, probably meaning statues and representations of their gods cut out of stone; and burn their groves, such as those about the temple of Ashtaroth, the Canaanitish Venus, whose impure rites were practiced in different parts of the enclosures or groves round her temples; and ye shall hew down the graven images, probably implying all images carved out of wood; and destroy the names of them, which... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 12:4

Verse 4 4Ye shall not do so unto the Lord your God. The principal distinction, as far as regards the external exercises of devotion, is here laid down between the legitimate worship of God, and all the fictitious rites which the Gentiles have invented; viz., that God would have but one sanctuary and one altar, which might be a symbol of the difference between Himself and all idols; and thus that true religion should have no affinity to superstitions. To this refers the prohibition, that the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 12:1-3

The invasion a religious one. The Israelites were instructed to exterminate the Canaanites in consequence of their sins, as we have already seen; but in this passage we have strict injunctions given to destroy the places of worship which the Canaanites had used, "upon the high mountains, and upon the hills, and under every green tree," etc. They were, in fact, to be iconoclasts , and they were to leave no vestige remaining of the Canaanitish worship. I. IT WAS THUS MADE ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 12:1-4

The doom of idolatry. The reverse side of blessing is a curse. The abuse of the best things is the worst. In the ratio in which any institution has capacity to benefit, has it capacity to injure. The sun can quicken life or kill. The temple is a stepping-stone to heaven or a snare of hell. I. BOTH NATURE AND ART HAVE BEEN PROSTITUTED TO BASEST USES . If men cannot find God in themselves, they cannot find him in material nature. Some "look through nature up to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 12:1-5

Destruction of monuments of idolatry. Israel's entrance into Canaan was the entrance of true knowledge, of pure forms of religion, of cleansed morals. The worship of Jehovah was the very antithesis of that of which these altars, pillars, and graven images, were the polluted memorials. "What did the grove conceal? Lust—blood—imposture. What sounds shook the lane? Alternate screams of anguish and the laughter of mad votaries. What was the priest? The teacher of every vice of which his god.... 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

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