CHAPTER XII _All monuments of idolatry in the promised land to be destroyed_, 1-3; _and God's service to be duly performed_, 4-7. _The difference between the performance of that service in the_ _wilderness and in the promised land_, 8-11. _The people are to be happy in all their religious obse... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Deuteronomy 12:3. _YE SHALL OVERTHROW THEIR ALTARS_] Where unholy sacrifices have been offered; _and break their pillars_, probably meaning statues and representations of their gods cut out of stone; _and burn their groves_, such as those about the temple of _Ashtaroth_, the Canaanitish _Venus... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Deuteronomy 12:14. _THE PLACE WHICH THE LORD SHALL CHOOSE_] To prevent idolatry and bring about a perfect uniformity in the Divine worship, which at that time was essentially necessary; because every _rite_ and _ceremony_ had a determinate meaning, and pointed out the good things which were t... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Deuteronomy 12:15. _THOU MAYEST KILL AND EAT FLESH IN ALL THY GATES_] With the proviso that the blood be poured out on the ground. 1. The blood should not be eaten. 2. It should be poured out by way of sacrifice. I think this is the meaning; and not that they should pour out the blood with a... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Deuteronomy 12:19. _FORSAKE NOT THE LEVITE_] These had no inheritance, and were to live by the sanctuary: if therefore the offerings were withheld by which the Levites were supported, they of course must perish. Those who have devoted themselves to the service of God in ministering to the salv... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Deuteronomy 12:23. _FOR THE BLOOD_ IS _THE LIFE_] And the _life_ being offered as an _atonement_, consequently the blood should not be eaten. Leviticus 17:11, where the subject of the _vitality_ of the blood is largely considered.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Deuteronomy 12:31. _THEIR SONS AND THEIR DAUGHTERS THEY HAVE BURNT IN THE_ _FIRE_] Almost all the nations in the world agreed in offering human victims to their gods on extraordinary occasions, by which it is evident that none of those nations had any right notion of the Divine nature. How ne... [ Continue Reading ]