Bible Commentaries
Deuteronomy 12

Verse 1

statutes and judgments. See note on Deuteronomy 4:1 .

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .

earth = ground. Hebrew. 'adamah.

Verse 2

green. Hebrew. z'anan. First occurrence.

Verse 3

break = smash.

pillars. These "menhirs" constantly dug up to-day. groves = Hebrew. 'asherah. See App-42 .

graven images = sculptures, as in Deuteronomy 7:25 .

destroy = cause to perish. Hebrew. 'abad. Compare Exodus 23:24 ; Exodus 34:13 .Judges 2:2 ; Judges 6:28 . 2 Kings 10:19 ; 2 Kings 11:1 .Ezekiel 6:3 .

Verse 5

the place. Only in the Land could these laws be carried out. See the Structure above. Compare Exodus 20:24 .

Verse 7

put your hand unto. Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6 , hand used for all works done by it.

Verse 8

every man. Hebrew ' ish . See App-14 .

Verse 9

rest. Compare Joshua 23:1 . Jos 25:19 . 1 Kings 8:56 .

Verse 11

a place. The ark of the covenant would be the place until the temple was built.

Verse 12

rejoice. Compare Leviticus 23:40 .

gates. Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Part), put for the whole city.

with you. Compare Deuteronomy 10:8 , Deuteronomy 10:9 . Numbers 3:11-13 .

Verse 15

thy soul = thyself. Hebrew. nephesh.

lusteth after = longeth for.

Verse 17

wine. Hebrew. tirosh. App-27 .

hand. Some codices, with Samaritan Pentateuch, The Targum of Jonathan ben Uzziel Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "hands" (plural)

Verse 19

as long as thou livest. Hebrew = all the days.

Verse 20

as = according as.

thy soul = thyself. Hebrew. nephesh .

Verse 21

kill = kill in sacrifice. App-43 . Compare 1 Samuel 16:5 ("sacrifice").

Verse 23

the blood is the life. Hebrew "the blood it [is] the soul". Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 . Compare Leviticus 17:11 , Leviticus 17:14 , and Deuteronomy 12:16 above.

the life = the soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .

Verse 24

Thou shalt not eat it. Repeated in Deuteronomy 12:25 . Figure of speech Anaphora ( App-6 ), for emphasis.

Verse 27

offer = prepare. See App-43 .

Verse 30

How . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 .

Verse 31

burnt = burnt up. See App-43 .

Verse 32

What, &c. Close of third address. See note on Deuteronomy 1:1 .