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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 12:20

When the Lord thy God shall enlarge thy border, as he hath promised thee ,.... Brought them into the land of Canaan, where they should have large and good pastures for the feeding of their cattle, which they had not in the wilderness, and so a greater increase of them: and thou shalt say, I will eat flesh ; which they were shorts of, or ate but little of in the wilderness, lest their herds and their flocks should be consumed; but now having room to feed them, and an increase of them,... 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

When the Lord thy God shall enlarge thy border. These laws were to continue in force even when God should, according to his promise ( Genesis 15:18 ; Exodus 23:27-31 ), extend the boundaries of their land. 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

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Deuteronomy 12:20-21

Deuteronomy 12:20-21. Enlarge thy border Which will make it impossible to bring all the cattle thou usest to the tabernacle. If the place be too far Being obliged to carry their sacrifices to the place of worship, they might think themselves obliged to carry their other cattle thither to be killed. They are therefore released from all such obligations, and left at liberty to kill them at home whether they lived nearer that place, or farther from it; only the latter is here mentioned, as... read more

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