Deuteronomy 12:17

17 You may not eat [the LORD's offerings] in your cities. Those offerings are: one-tenth of your grain, new wine, and olive oil; the firstborn of your cattle, sheep, or goats; the offerings you vow to bring; your freewill offerings; and your contributions.

Deuteronomy 12:17 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 12:17

Thou mayest not eat within thy gates the tithe of thy corn, or
of thy wine, or of thy oil
This cannot be understood of the tithe given to the Levites, or of that which the Levites out of theirs gave to the priests, for that was only eaten by them; but of the tithe which every three years they were to lay up within their gates, and which they were to eat with their families and others; but the other two years they were to carry it to the place the Lord chose, or turn it into money, and when they came thither purchase with it what they pleased, and eat it, they and their household, and others with them, before the Lord; see ( Deuteronomy 14:22-29 ) ,

the firstlings of thy herds or of thy flocks;
these also the firstborn males belonged to the Lord, and so to the priests, and could not be eaten by the people any where; and must be understood either of the next firstlings, which were the people's, or of the female firstlings, which they might devote to the Lord, and so not allowed to eat at home, but in the chosen place:

nor any of thy vows which thou vowest, nor thy freewill offerings;
which were species of peace offerings, and so to be eaten not in their own cities, but in the place appointed:

or heave offerings of thine hand;
the firstfruits; see ( Deuteronomy 26:1-11 ) these were such they were not bound to bring, but brought them freely.

Deuteronomy 12:17 In-Context

15 In whatever city you live, you may slaughter and eat as much meat as you want from what the LORD your God has blessed you with. Clean and unclean people may eat it as if they were eating a gazelle or a deer.
16 But never eat the blood. Pour it on the ground like water.
17 You may not eat [the LORD's offerings] in your cities. Those offerings are: one-tenth of your grain, new wine, and olive oil; the firstborn of your cattle, sheep, or goats; the offerings you vow to bring; your freewill offerings; and your contributions.
18 Instead, you, your sons and daughters, male and female slaves, and the Levites who live in your cities must eat these in the presence of the LORD your God at the place he will choose. There in the presence of the LORD your God enjoy everything you've worked for.
19 Don't forget to take care of the Levites as long as you live in your land.
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