Deuteronomy 12:17-19

17 You must not eat in your own towns the tithe of your grain and new wine and olive oil, or the firstborn of your herds and flocks, or whatever you have vowed to give, or your freewill offerings or special gifts.
18 Instead, you are to eat them in the presence of the LORD your God at the place the LORD your God will choose—you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, and the Levites from your towns—and you are to rejoice before the LORD your God in everything you put your hand to.
19 Be careful not to neglect the Levites as long as you live in your land.

Deuteronomy 12:17-19 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. S Leviticus 27:30
  • 2. S Numbers 18:12
  • 3. ver 26; Numbers 18:19
  • 4. Deuteronomy 14:23; Deuteronomy 15:20
  • 5. Deuteronomy 14:23; Deuteronomy 15:20
  • 6. ver 5
  • 7. ver 7,12; Deuteronomy 14:26; Nehemiah 8:10; Ecclesiastes 3:12-13; Ecclesiastes 5:18-20
  • 8. ver 12; Deuteronomy 14:27; Nehemiah 13:10
  • 9. Malachi 3:8
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