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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 12:9

For ye are not yet come to the rest ,.... The land of Canaan, which was typical of the rest which remains for the people of God in heaven; for though they now enter into a spiritual rest in Christ, they are not yet come to their eternal rest; they are in a world of trouble, through sin, Satan, and wicked men; but they shall come to it, as Israel did to Canaan; for God has promised and prepared it, and it remains for them; Christ prayed for it, is also gone to prepare it, and the Spirit is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 12:10

But when ye go over Jordan ,.... Which lay between the place where they now were, and the land of Canaan, and which they would quickly go over: and dwell in the land which the Lord your God giveth you to inherit ; the land of Canaan, and which shows that that is meant by the inheritance: and when he giveth you rest from all your enemies round about : which was done when the land was subdued, and divided among the tribes of Israel, Joshua 22:4 and which confirms the sense of Canaan... 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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 12:15

Notwithstanding, thou mayest kill and eat flesh in all thy gates ,.... They might kill such cattle that were allowed for food, and eat the flesh of them in theie own cities and houses in which they dwelt; they were not obliged to bring these to the place God should choose, and kill them there, as they had been wont to bring them to the tabernacle while in the wilderness: whatsoever thy soul lusteth after ; whatever they had a mind to, or their appetite craved, and were desirous of,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 12:16

Only ye shall not eat the blood ,.... All manner of blood being forbidden, of fowl or of beasts, whether slain for sacrifice or for common food: ye shall pour it out upon the earth as water ; which cannot be gathered up again for use, but is swallowed up in the earth. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 12:17

Thou mayest not eat within thy gates the tithe of thy corn, or of thy wine, or of thy oil ,.... This cannot be understood of the tithe given to the Levites, or of that which the Levites out of theirs gave to the priests, for that was only eaten by them; but of the tithe which every three years they were to lay up within their gates, and which they were to eat with their families and others; but the other two years they were to carry it to the place the Lord chose, or turn it into money, and... read more

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