Deuteronomy 12:20-30

20 "When the LORD your God extends your border 1as 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.
21 "If the place which the LORD your God chooses to put His name is too far from you, then you may slaughter of your herd and flock which the LORD has given you, as I have commanded you; and you may eat within your gates whatever you desire.
22 "Just as a gazelle or a deer is eaten, so you will eat it; the unclean and the clean alike may eat of it.
23 "Only be sure 2not to eat the blood, for the blood is the life, and you shall not eat the life with the flesh.
24 "You shall not eat it; you shall pour it out on the ground like water.
25 "You shall not eat it, so that 3it may be well with you and your sons after you, for 4you will be doing what is right in the sight of the LORD.
26 "5Only 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 6you 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 7you shall eat the flesh.
28 "Be careful to listen to all these words which I command you, so that 8it 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 9the 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?'

Deuteronomy 12:20-30 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. Genesis 15:18; Deuteronomy 11:24; Deuteronomy 19:8
  • 2. Genesis 9:4; Leviticus 17:10-14; Deuteronomy 12:16
  • 3. Deuteronomy 4:40; Isaiah 3:10
  • 4. Exodus 15:26; 1 Kings 11:38
  • 5. Numbers 5:9; Numbers 18:19; Deuteronomy 12:17
  • 6. Leviticus 1:9, 13
  • 7. Leviticus 3:1-17
  • 8. Deuteronomy 4:40; Ecclesiastes 8:12
  • 9. Joshua 23:4

Footnotes 6

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