Deuteronomy 12:30-31

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 12:30

Take heed to thyself, that thou be not snared by following them ,.... Their examples and customs, and so be drawn into the same idolatrous practices; see Psalm 106:35 , after that they be destroyed from before thee; for their idolatries and other sins: and that thou inquire not after their gods ; what they were, their names, forms, and figures: saying, how did these nations serve their gods ? what was the manner of worship they gave them? what rites, customs, and ceremonies did... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 12:31

Thou shalt not do so unto the Lord thy God ,.... Not serve and worship him after the manner of the Gentiles, nor introduce their rites and customs into his service, used by them in the worship of their gods: for every abomination which he hateth have they done unto their gods ; as murder, adultery, &c.; which God has expressed his aversion to, and indignation at; one instance of the former sort is given here: for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 12:31

Their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire - Almost all the nations in the world agreed in offering human victims to their gods on extraordinary occasions, by which it is evident that none of those nations had any right notion of the Divine nature. How necessary, then, was the volume of revelation, to teach men what that religion is with which God can be well pleased! The Hindoos to this day offer human victims to their goddess Cali, and at the temple of Jaggernaut; and yet,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 12:31

Verse 31 31.Thou shalt not do so. From these words we may gather what it is not to make to one’s self the gods of others, viz., to bid farewell to all the inventions of men, and to pay attention to this one thing — what God commands. For why does God desire to be worshipped by His elect people, otherwise than the nations were in the habit of serving their gods, except because there ought to be a notable distinction, so that religion may not be confused? And surely unless men cleave to God’s... 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 12:29-30

Here the speaker reverts to the admonition with which he began this part of his address ( Deuteronomy 12:2 ); and warns the people against having any intercourse with the Canaanites in their idolatrous practices. That thou enquire not after their gods. It was a general belief among the heathen that to ignore or neglect the deities of a country was sure to bring calamity (cf. 2 Kings 17:26 ); hence the need of cautioning the Israelites against inquiring after the gods of the Canaanites... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 12:29-32

Unworthy inquiries. We have here— I. BALEFUL SUPERSTITION . The ground of these inquiries about the gods of the place was a lurking belief in their reality. There was a superstitious feeling that the woods, hills, streams, etc; must have their deities, whom it would be well to propitiate and worship. The country as a whole, and special districts of it, had gods, and, Jehovah notwithstanding, the superstitious part of the community stood in dread of them. Superstitions are hard to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 12:29-32

The subtle ensnarements of idolatry. A spirit of vain curiosity is to be repressed at its beginning. So weak is human nature, and so subtle is the working of sin, that prying curiosity into evil customs works practical mischief. Human life, to be a success, must be a perpetual battle with moral evil. We cannot afford to parley with the enemy nor give him a single advantage. Incessant watchfulness is our safety. I. IDOLATRY HAS GREAT FASCINATIONS FOR MAN 'S SENSUOUS ... read more

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