Deuteronomy 12:21

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 12:21

If the place which the Lord thy God hath chosen to put his name be too far from thee ,.... Or rather "for" F8 כי "cum", Pagninus, Montanus. , or "seeing" the place will be too far from thee; for it is allowed before that they might kill and eat flesh for common food in their gates, Deuteronomy 12:15 . then thou shalt kill of thy herd and of thy flock ; of thy oxen and of thy sheep, creatures used in sacrifice; but this was no bar to the use of them for common food also: ... 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 12:5-28

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 12:6-29

The central sanctuary. There are difficulties connected with this law from which conclusions have been drawn adverse to the Mosaic authorship of Deuteronomy. These arise: 1. From the lack of evidence that the law was in force in the days of the judges and earlier kings. 2. From the practice of judges, kings, prophets, and other good men in offering sacrifices elsewhere than at the prescribed center. 3. From the mention of other sanctuaries in the history ( e . g . Joshua... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 12:15-26

The Divine regulation of food. All animals for food had formerly to be killed at the door of the tabernacle (Le Deuteronomy 16:1-8 ). Probably the rule was not strictly observed ( Deuteronomy 12:8 ), but in view of the occupation of the land, the prohibition is relaxed. Note— I. OUR BIGHTS IN THE USE OF FOOD TAKE THEIR ORIGIN FROM GOD . This is taught in the account of creation ( Genesis 1:29 , Genesis 1:30 ), in the grant of flesh to Noah ( Genesis 9:3... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 12:20-28

The sanctity of blood. The central altar was for the reception of the blood. And while the Jews remained in pilgrimage, every time they killed an animal out of their flocks or herds for family use they carried the blood to the tabernacle, that it might be duly disposed of by the priest. In case of the roebucks and harts, their blood was not sacrificial; it was therefore ordained that it should be poured out on the earth, and carefully and solemnly covered up. When they were settled in the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 12:21-23

If the place.; be too far from thee ; this supplies the reason for the alteration of the law in Le Deuteronomy 17:3 . Only be sure; literally, only be strong ; i . e . be firm and resolute, steadfastly resisting the temptation to eat it. The blood is the life (cf. Genesis 9:4 ; Le Genesis 11:1 ; Genesis 17:11 ). The word used is nephesh ( נֶפֶשׁ ). By this word the Hebrews designated the animal life-principle in men and in beasts; and as without this the body was a mere... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Deuteronomy 12:21

If the place ... - Rather, “Because, or since, the place will be too far from thee.” The permission given in Deuteronomy 12:15-16 is repeated, and the reason of it assigned. read more

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