Deuteronomy 12:22-32

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 1not 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 2it may be well with you and your sons after you, for 3you will be doing what is right in the sight of the LORD.
26 "4Only 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 5you 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 6you shall eat the flesh.
28 "Be careful to listen to all these words which I command you, so that 7it 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 8the 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 "9You shall not behave thus toward the LORD your God, for every abominable act which the LORD hates they have done for their gods; for 10they even burn their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods.
32 "11Whatever * * I command you, you shall be careful to do; 12you shall not add to nor take away from it.

Deuteronomy 12:22-32 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 12

  • 1. Genesis 9:4; Leviticus 17:10-14; Deuteronomy 12:16
  • 2. Deuteronomy 4:40; Isaiah 3:10
  • 3. Exodus 15:26; 1 Kings 11:38
  • 4. Numbers 5:9; Numbers 18:19; Deuteronomy 12:17
  • 5. Leviticus 1:9, 13
  • 6. Leviticus 3:1-17
  • 7. Deuteronomy 4:40; Ecclesiastes 8:12
  • 8. Joshua 23:4
  • 9. Deuteronomy 9:5
  • 10. Leviticus 18:21; Deuteronomy 18:10; Psalms 106:37; Jeremiah 32:35
  • 11. Deuteronomy 4:2; Joshua 1:7
  • 12. Proverbs 30:6; Revelation 22:18

Footnotes 4

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