Matthew Henry's Complete Bible Commentary

Deuteronomy 12

Moses at this chapter comes to the particular statues which he had to give in charge to Israel, and he begins with those which relate to the worship of God, and particularly those which explain the second commandment, about which God is in a special manner jealous. I. They must utterly destroy all relics and remains of idolatry, Deuteronomy 12:1-12:3. II. They must keep close to the tabernacle, Deuteronomy 12:4, 12:5. The former precept was intended to prevent all false worship, the latter to preserve the worship God had instituted. By this latter law, 1. They are commanded to bring all their offerings to the altar of God, and all their holy things to the place which he should choose, Deuteronomy 12:6, 12:7, 12:11, 12:12, 12:14, 12:18, 12:26-12:28. 2. They are forbidden, in general, to do as they now did in the wilderness (Deuteronomy 12:8-12:11), and as the Canaanites had done (Deuteronomy 12:29-12:32), and, in particular, to eat the hallowed things at their own houses (Deuteronomy 12:13, 12:17, 12:18), or to forsake the instituted ministry, Deuteronomy 12:19. 3. They are permitted to eat flesh as common food at their own houses, provided they do not eat the blood, Deuteronomy 12:15, 12:16, and again, Deuteronomy 12:20-12:26. MHBCC 166.1