Deuteronomy 12:1-32

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

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 12:1

These are the statutes and judgments which ye shall observe to do ,.... Which are recorded in this and the following chapters; here a new discourse begins, and which perhaps was delivered at another time, and respects things that were to be observed: in the land which the Lord God of thy fathers giveth thee to possess it ; the land of Canaan, often described by this circumlocution, to put them in mind that it was promised to their fathers by their covenant God, was his gift to them, and... 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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 12:5

But unto the place which the Lord your God ,.... The Targum of Jonathan is, that the Word of the Lord your God: shall choose out of all your tribes to put his name there ; to place his tabernacle, set up his worship, take up his residence, and cause the Shechinah, or his divine Majesty, to dwell there, as the next clause explains it; out of what tribe it should be chosen, and where it should be, is not said. Maimomides F2 Moreh Nevochim, par. 3. c. 45. p. 475. gives three reasons... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 12:6

And thither ye shall bring your burnt offerings ,.... For the daily sacrifice, and upon any other account whatsoever; this was before ordered to be brought to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and now to the place where that should be fixed, Leviticus 17:8 . and your sacrifices : all other distinct from burnt offerings, as sin offerings, trespass offerings, and peace offerings, especially the latter. Jarchi interprets them of peace offerings of debt, such as a man was... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 12:7

And there ye shall eat before the Lord your God ,.... The priests and the Levites, what was their portion, so Aben Ezra; but the people also are included, and by what follows seem chiefly designed, who were to eat their part of the sacrifices, particularly of the tithes and peace offerings, in the holy place that should be chosen and appointed; see Deuteronomy 14:22 . and ye shall rejoice in all that ye put your hand unto ; in all the labours of their hands, and what they got thereby,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 12:8

Ye shall not do after all the things that we do here ,.... In the wilderness, where they had no abiding, but were continually removing from place to place, and could not always observe punctually and precisely the exact order and time of their sacrifices and other things, nor offer them at any certain place, and many were doubtless neglected by them; see Amos 5:25 . every man whatsoever is right in his own eyes ; that did he, brought the above things when and where he pleased; not that... read more

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