Deuteronomy 12:20-32

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

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 12:22

Even as the roebuck and the hart is eaten ,.... Which were not only clean creatures, as before observed, but were commonly and frequently eaten, there being plenty of them in those parts: so thou shalt eat them ; their oxen and calves, their sheep and lambs, their goats and their kids: the unclean and the clean shall eat of them alike ; no difference being to be made on that account, with respect to common food; See Gill on Deuteronomy 12:15 which all alike might partake of,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 12:23

Only be sure that thou eat not the blood ,.... This is repeated again, that they might be careful to observe the law concerning that: for the blood is the life : which is the reason given for the prohibition of it; see Gill on Leviticus 17:11 , and thou mayest not eat the life with the flesh : by which it seems that the meaning of the law was, that the blood might not be eaten in or with the flesh, but to be let out of it, or the fish not to be eaten raw, but dressed; for there... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 12:24

Thou shalt not eat it ,.... Neither with the flesh, nor separately: thou shall pour it upon the earth as water ; as the blood of sacrifices was poured upon the altar, the blood of common flesh was to be poured upon the earth, signifying it was not to be used, and no account to be made of it; See Gill on Deuteronomy 12:16 read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 12:25

Thou shall not eat it, that it may be well with thee, and with thy children after thee ,.... That they and their posterity might be spared, and continue long, and enjoy much prosperity; for those that eat blood, contrary to this command of God, it is threatened that he would set his face against them, and they should be cut off, Leviticus 7:27 , when thou shall do that which is right in the sight of the Lord ; not only observe this command, but all others. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 12:26

Only thy holy things which thou hast ,.... Which the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan interpret of the tithe of their holy things, and Aben Ezra of their burnt offerings and peace offerings; they seem to include all in Deuteronomy 12:17 . and thy vows thou shalt take, and go unto the place which the Lord shall choose ; so often referred to, but not named; see Deuteronomy 12:5 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 12:27

And thou shalt offer thy burnt offerings, the flesh and the blood, upon the altar of the Lord thy God ,.... And on that only, even the altar of burnt offering: and the blood of thy sacrifices ; one as well as another, not only of the burnt offerings, but of the sin offerings, trespass offerings, and peace offerings: shall be poured out upon the altar of the Lord thy God : either sprinkled on it, or poured out at the bottom of it; see Leviticus 1:1 , and thou shalt eat the flesh ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 12:28

Observe and hear all these words which I command thee ,.... Respecting the demolition of all monuments of idolatry, and bringing all holy things to the place the Lord should choose to dwell in; and eating common flesh in their own houses, only to be careful not to eat blood: that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee for ever ; for, as has been often observed, their continuance in the land of Canaan, and enjoyment of all good things in it, depended upon their... read more

Group of Brands