Deuteronomy 12:26-32

26 "1Only your holy things which you may have and your votive offerings, you shall take and go to the place which the LORD chooses.
27 "And 2you shall offer your burnt offerings, the flesh and the blood, on the altar of the LORD your God; and the blood of your sacrifices shall be poured out on the altar of the LORD your God, and 3you shall eat the flesh.
28 "Be careful to listen to all these words which I command you, so that 4it may be well with you and your sons after you forever *, for you will be doing what is good and right in the sight of the LORD your God.
29 "When 5the LORD your God cuts off before * you the nations which you are going in to dispossess, and you dispossess them and dwell in their land,
30 beware that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed before * you, and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, 'How do these nations serve their gods, that I also may do likewise?'
31 "6You shall not behave thus toward the LORD your God, for every abominable act which the LORD hates they have done for their gods; for 7they even burn their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods.
32 "8Whatever * * I command you, you shall be careful to do; 9you shall not add to nor take away from it.

Deuteronomy 12:26-32 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 12

In this chapter orders are given to destroy all altars, pillars, groves, and images, made for the worship of idols in the land of Canaan, De 12:1-3 and to bring all sacrifices and holy things unto the place which the Lord should choose for his habitation, and not do as they then did, not being come to their rest, De 12:4-14, flesh for their common food might be killed and eaten in their own houses, provided they did not eat the blood, but poured it out upon the earth, De 12:15-25, tithes, vows, and freewill offerings, were to be eaten in the holy place, De 12:17-19 and burnt offerings to be offered on the altar of the Lord and the blood of them to be poured out upon the altar, De 12:26-28, all which they were carefully to observe, De 12:29, and they are cautioned against idolatry, and inquiring after the manner of it, as practised by the old inhabitants of the land, and introducing their customs into the service of God, De 12:30-32.

Cross References 9

  • 1. Numbers 5:9; Numbers 18:19; Deuteronomy 12:17
  • 2. Leviticus 1:9, 13
  • 3. Leviticus 3:1-17
  • 4. Deuteronomy 4:40; Ecclesiastes 8:12
  • 5. Joshua 23:4
  • 6. Deuteronomy 9:5
  • 7. Leviticus 18:21; Deuteronomy 18:10; Psalms 106:37; Jeremiah 32:35
  • 8. Deuteronomy 4:2; Joshua 1:7
  • 9. Proverbs 30:6; Revelation 22:18

Footnotes 2

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