Deuteronomy 12

Deuteronomy 12:1

ALL * the dayes that] * 1 Kings 8:40. Psalms 104:33.

Deuteronomy 12:2

• utterly destroy] * Chap. 7. 5. Numb. 33. vers. 52.

high mountains, &c.] * Numbers 22:41. 2 Kings 23:13. 15.

Deuteronomy 12:3

names] Either forbearing to name them, as Exodus 23:13. and putting other names in their stead, as Numbers 32:38. or by naming them onely by way of reproofe or contempt, 1 King. 18. 26, 27.

Deuteronomy 12:4

not doe so] You shall not serve the Lord in such sort as they served Idols in their superstitious and idolatrous observances; especially you shall not serve him in consecrated groves; or, you shall not doe so by those things which belong unto the Lord, as unto such things as are dedicated unto Idols. And if any of the faithfull servants of God did at any time sacrifice in groves, they either had an especiall warrant, or their fact was their fault; against this negative rule, there can be no dispensation but by divine Authoritie.

Deuteronomy 12:6

• thither, &c.] * Levit. 17. 3, 4. Ezekiel 20:40.

Deuteronomy 12:7

there] See Annot. on Numbers 18:10.

ye shall cate] The Priests such things as belonged unto them; and the people such things as were allowed unto them: and they might eate of the peace-offering; but they might not eate of the sinne-offering, nor of votive-offerings, nor of the whole burnt-offerings, as appeareth, Numbers 18:9. 15. Or, by their eating before the Lord, may be meant their feasting and rejoycing, when they were thrice in a yeare to appeare before the Lord in the place where the Tabernacle was, or the Temple should be, Chap. 27. 7.

before the Lord] This is to be understood chiefly of the Priests, who might eate in places which had neere reference to God, with whom the people were not to be partakers: Or, if it be referred to the people, they may be said to eate before the Lord, when eating they give thanks unto the Lord, Rom. 14 6. Or, because they were to eate a second tithe (after they had paid the first to the Levites) onely in that Citie or place, where Gods Sanctuary was set up. See vers. 17, 18. of this Chapter.

Deuteronomy 12:8

after all that we doe] For God will be served after a more exact and perfect manner when ye come into the Land of Canaan, then hitherto he hath beene, or conveniently could be in the wildernesse.

right in his owne eyes] Not that they sacrificed altogether after their phantasies; but in many things they tooke too much libertie to do what they liked: or, in respect of the ceremoniall laws they were not to be so free from obligation and practise of them in the promised land, as now they were in the wildernesse, where neither Circumcision, nor the Passeover, nor other Ordinances (which were neither morall nor judiciall) were, or could conveniently be observed as in the Land of Canaan they might, and must be too: and withall it was to admonish them that the more Gods favour was manifested to them, (and it is more manifest in the fruition then in the promise of his blessings) the more should their obedience be manifested to him, 1 Chronicles 13:4. Judges 17:6. Proverbs 14:12.

Deuteronomy 12:10

in safetie] This is spoken with reference to their Anniversary recourse to the place of the Tabernacle or Temple thrice a yeare, that they might not faile of their appearance there so oft as was required, for feare lest in their absence their enemies should invade their dwellings and take away or spoyle what they left at home.

Deuteronomy 12:11

shall choose] That was for a time the Citie Shiloh, where the Tabernacle was placed, Jeremiah 7:12. Ps. 78. 60. & where it continued unto the dayes of Samuel, which was two hundred fourty and three yeares; or, (as some thinke) three hundred, 1 Sam. 4. 12, 13. though called the Temple, 1 Samuel 1:9. and afterwards Jerusalem, where the Temple was built in Solomons time. See Annot. on 1 Kings 8:29. Psalms 78:68.

choice vowes] That is, such things as you vowed freely being at your owne choice: or, such things as you offered not taking what come first to hand, but with choyce and election of the fairest and best, as meetest for Gods service and acceptance.

Deuteronomy 12:12

before the Lord] At the Tabernacle or Temple, or in the Citie where either of them shall be erected for the solemn service of God to be presented to him, as conversant with those that sincerely serve him.

hath no part] His rejoycing is not because he hath no part of inheritance, but because, though he have no such portion as the rest, he shall rejoyce in the participation of the offerings, &c. Or these words may have reference to what was said before, which is, that the Priests should invite the Levite to their feasts, as may be collected from Chap. 16. 5: 11. 14. and that because he hath no portion of lands with the other Tribes, Numbers 18:20.

Deuteronomy 12:13

Take heed, &c.] Chap. 11. 16. Leviticus 17:4.

the burnt-offeriags] Under this word are other holy oblations comprehended, though they be not expresly mentioned, as burnt-offerings are.

Deuteronomy 12:15

the uncleane] Every one, whether ceremonially uncleane, or not, might eate of the same kinde of beasts which were appointed for sacrifice, as well as of them that were not, as the Roe-buck, and the Hart, which were not to be sacrificed to the Lord: for in civill meats (whereof he speaketh here) there was not that distinction observed betwixt persons or meats as in sacrifices there was, vers. 20, 21, 22. of which this distinction is to be observed; some creatures were ceremonially uncleane, so that they might neither be sacrificed nor eaten, whereof see Levit. 11. & Chap. 14. of this booke; some were wholly clean, which might be both eaten and offered in sacrifice; as of birds the Turtle and Pigeon, and of beasts the Sheepe, Kine, and Goats; and some were partly cleane and partly uncleane, so cleane, that they might be eaten, and so ceremonially uncleane, that they might not be sacrificed; whereof see Chap. 14. 5: 5.

Deuteronomy 12:16

as water] That the ground may drinke it up, and it be not used for meat to man or beast, because the blood of sacrifices is peculiarly consecrated to God, as a type of the bloud of Christ. There be other reasons used against the eating of bloud, whereof see vers. 23, 24. & Annot. on Genesis 9:4.

Deuteronomy 12:19

• Take heed] This Caveat sheweth mens pronenesse to forsake the Levite, and importeth a threat to them that doe it, Chap. 14. 27. Nehemiah 10:39. Vers. 30. & 4. 15.

Deuteronomy 12:21

be too farre] They that dwelt too farre off from the place of the Tabernacle or Temple, might for all that keepe their feasts here mentioned, though they had not Priests and sacrifices as at the place where the Tabernacle or Temple stood; for though the Priests were there, it was not their duty to kill the cattel which were eaten in their particular or private houses; therefore they that dwelt at such distance that they could not appeare, need neither forbeare their feasts, nor be scrupled because they had no Priests among them to celebrate such services as were done at the Tabernacle or Temple.

Deuteronomy 12:22

• Roe] * Vers. 15. Chap. 14. 5. & 15. 22.

uncleane, &c.] There was a two-fold ceremoniall uncleannesse: a lesser, which onely rested on the party who was ceremonially uncleane, and did not communicate an uncleannesse unto another; and there was an uncleannesse by which another became ceremonially uncleane, by touch or company; the former lesser uncleannesse was no let to a sociable eating with others who were not ceremonially unclean at all; the latter was; yet they that were thus uncleane might in their meat communicate among themselves, as when a whole family was uncleane by reason of a dead body among them.

Deuteronomy 12:23

for the bloud] See Annot. on Genesis 9:4.

Deuteronomy 12:26

thy holy things] Such as are mentioned, vers. 17.

Deuteronomy 12:27

the flesh thereof] That is, the flesh of Peace-offerings, for part thereof was to be eaten by the owners who offered them. So are we to understand Leviticus 7:15.

Deuteronomy 12:28

after thee for ever] A man cannot better blesse his children then by his owne obedience to his heavenly Father, Isa. 48. 18, 19.

Deuteronomy 12:30

enquire not] With any purpose to make any patterne of their practice.

Deuteronomy 12:31

burnt them] They thought nothing too deare to offer to their Idols: whereby it appeareth how subtill and powerfull Satan is in drawing Idolaters to doe so contrary both to grace and nature, Leviticus 18:21. & Leviticus 20:2. 2 Kings 16:3. Jeremiah 32:35.