Deuteronomy 12:18

18 "But ¹you shall eat them before the LORD your God in ²the place which the LORD your God will choose, you and your son and daughter, and your male and female servants *, and the ³Levite who is within your gates; and you shall ⁴rejoice before the LORD your God in all your undertakings.

Deuteronomy 12:18 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 12:18

But thou must eat them before the Lord thy God, in the place
which the Lord thy God shall choose
Which may be said to be eaten before him, being eaten in the place where his sanctuary stood, in which he dwelt:

thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy
maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy gates;
who were all to come with him to this place; (See Gill on Deuteronomy 12:12)

and thou shalt rejoice before the Lord thy God in all that thou puttest
thine hand unto;
cheerfully make and keep this feast in the manner directed to, rejoicing with his family and his friends, with the Levites and with the poor, expressing his thankfulness to God for his blessing on his labour.

Deuteronomy 12:18 In-Context

16 "Only you shall not eat the blood; you are to pour it out on the ground like water.

17 "You are not allowed to eat within your gates the tithe of your grain or new wine or oil, or the firstborn of your herd or flock, or any of your votive offerings which you vow, or your freewill offerings, or the contribution of your hand.

18 "But you shall eat them before the LORD your God in the place which the LORD your God will choose, you and your son and daughter, and your male and female servants , and the Levite who is within your gates; and you shall rejoice before the LORD your God in all your undertakings.

19 "Be careful that you do not forsake the Levite as long as you live in your land.

20 "When the LORD your God extends your border as He has promised you, and you say, 'I will eat meat,' because you desire to eat meat, then you may eat meat, whatever you desire.

Cross References

• 1. Deuteronomy 14:23
• 2. Deuteronomy 12:5
• 3. Deuteronomy 12:12
• 4. Deuteronomy 12:7; Ecclesiastes 3:12; Ecclesiastes 5:18-20

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "the putting forth of your hand"