Deuteronomy 12:12

12 "And you shall 1rejoice before the LORD your God, you and your sons and daughters, your male and female servants *, and the 2Levite who is within your gates, since 3he has no portion or inheritance with you.

Deuteronomy 12:12 Meaning and 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 ) wives are not mentioned, because it could not be thought they would eat and rejoice, or keep such a feast, without them, and therefore needless to name them:

and the Levite that is within your gates;
such also were to partake of this entertainment, who were useful in instructing their families in the knowledge of divine things, and serviceable to them on many accounts in the worship of God:

forasmuch as he hath no part nor inheritance with you;
in the division of the land, and so having nothing to manure and cultivate, was destitute of the fruits of the earth, and could make no improvement and increase of his substance, as they could.

Deuteronomy 12:12 In-Context

10 "When you cross the Jordan and live in the land which the LORD your God is giving you to inherit, and He gives you rest from all your enemies around you so that you live in security,
11 then it shall come about that the place in which the LORD your God will choose for His name to dwell, there you shall bring all that I command you: your burnt offerings and your sacrifices, your tithes and the contribution of your hand, and all your choice votive offerings which you will vow to the LORD .
12 "And you shall rejoice before the LORD your God, you and your sons and daughters, your male and female servants , and the Levite who is within your gates, since he has no portion or inheritance with you.
13 "Be careful that you do not offer your burnt offerings in every cultic place you see,
14 but in the place which the LORD chooses in one of your tribes, there you shall offer your burnt offerings, and there you shall do all that I command you.

Cross References 3

  • 1. Deuteronomy 12:7
  • 2. Deuteronomy 12:18, 19; Deuteronomy 26:11-13
  • 3. Deuteronomy 10:9; Deuteronomy 14:29
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