Attributed commentary excerpt
Keil & Delitzsch on Deuteronomy 12:1
A historical reference excerpt for this verse. Read it alongside the biblical text and other available sources.
Commentary on the Old Testament
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · 19th-century historical commentary
Source: BibleWord.ai's local reference edition of this named work.
The laws relating to the worship of the Israelites commence with a command to destroy and annihilate all places and memorials of the Canaanitish worship ( Deu 12:2-4), and then lay it down as an established rule, that the Israelites were to worship the Lord their God with sacrifices and gifts, only in the place which He Himself should choose ( Deu 12:5-14). On the other hand, in the land of Canaan cattle might be slain for eating and the flesh itself be consumed in any place; though sacrificial meals could only be celebrated in the place of the sanctuary appointed by the Lord ( Deu 12:15-19). Moreover, on the extension of the borders of the land, oxen, and sheep, and goats could be slaughtered for food in any place; but the blood was not to be eaten, and consecrated gifts and votive sacrifices were not to be prepared as meals anywhere, except at the altar of the Lord ( Deu 12:20-28). Lastly, the Israelites were not to be drawn aside by the Canaanites, to imitate them in their worship ( Deu 12:29-31). Deu 12:1 On the heading in Deu 12:1, see chs. Deu 6:1 and Deu 4:1. "All the days that ye live" relates to the more distant clause, "which ye shall observe," etc. (cf. Deu 4:10). Deu 12:2-3 Ye shall destroy all the places where the Canaanites worship their gods, upon the high mountains, upon the hills, and under every green tree (cf. Jer 2:20; Jer 3:6; Jer 17:2; Kg2 16:4; Kg2 17:10). The choice of mountains and hills for places of worship by most of the heathen nations, had its origin in the wide-spread belief, that men were nearer to the Deity and to heaven there. The green trees are connected with the holy groves, of which the heathen nations were so fond, and the shady gloom of which filled the soul with holy awe at the nearness of the Deity. In the absence of groves, they chose green trees with thick foliage ( Eze 6:13; Eze 20:28), such as the vigorous oak, which attains a great age, the evergreen terebinth ( Isa 1:29-30; Isa 57:5), and the poplar or osier, which continues green even in the heat of summer ( Hos 4:13), and whose deep shade is adapted to dispose the mind to devotion. Deu 12:3 Beside the place of worship, they were also to destroy all the idols of the Canaanitish worship, as had already been commanded in Deu 7:5, and to blot out even their names, i.e., every trace of their existence (cf. Deu 7:24). Deu 12:4-5 "Ye shall not do so to Jehovah your God," i.e., not build altars and offer sacrifices to Him in any place you choose, but ( Deu 12:5.) shall only keep yourselves (אל דּרשׁ) to the place "which He shall choose out of all the tribes to put His name there for His dwelling." Whereas the heathen seeks and worships his nature-gods, wherever he thinks he can discern in nature any trace of Divinity, the true God has not only revealed His eternal power and Godhead in the works of creation, but His personal being, which unfolds itself to the world in love and holiness, in grace and righteousness, He has made known to man, who was created in His image, in the words and works of salvation; and in these testimonies of His saving presence He has fixed for Himself a name, in which He dwells among His people. This name presents His personality, as comprehended in the word Jehovah, in a visible sign, the tangible pledge of His essential presence. During the journeying of the Israelites this was effected by the pillar of cloud and fire; and after the erection of the tabernacle, by the cloud in the most holy place, above the ark of th…
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