Annotations on the Pentateuch, Psalms, Song of Songs, Biblical commentary 5 · Chapter 12
CHAP. XII.
1 Places and monuments of idolatrie are to be destroyed: 4 they may not doe so unto the Lord, but must seeke and keepe the place of his service, which be himselfe should chuse. 5 11 14 Thither all their sacrifices & holy things must be brought. 12 18 There they and their families, and the Levite, must eat and reioyce. 15 21 For civill use they might kill and eat within their gates. 16. 23 Bloud is forbidden to be eaten. 29 The manner of service which the Canaanites used, may not be inquired after, nor the like things done unto the Lord, but his commandements only.
THese are the statutes and the judgements which ye shall observe to doe, in the land which Iehovah the God of thy fathers giveth unto thee, to possesse it all the dayes that ye live upon the earth. Destroying ye shall destroy all the places wherein the nations which ye shall possesse, served their gods, upon the high mountaines, and upon the hills, and under every greene tree. And ye shall breake downe their altars, and breake their pillars, and burne their groves with fire; and ye shall hew downe the graven images of their gods, and ye shall destroy the names of them out of that place. Yee shall not doe so unto Iehovah your God. But unto the place which Iehovah your God shall chuse out of all your Tribes, to put his Name there, even unto his habitation shall ye seeke, and thither shalt thou come. And thither ye shall bring your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and the heave-offering of your hand, and your vowes, and your voluntary offerings, and the firstlings of your herd, and of your flocke. And there ye shall eat before Iehovah your God, and yee shall rejoyce in all that ye put your hand unto, you and your houses, wherein Iehovah thy God hath blessed thee. Yee shall not doe after all things which we doe here this day, every man all that is right in his owne eyes. For yee are not come as yet unto the rest and unto the inheritance which Iehovah thy God giveth unto thee. But ye shall passe over Iordan, and dwell in the land which Iehovah your God giveth you to inherit, and he will give you rest from all your enemies round about, and yee shall dwell in consident safetie. And there shall be a place which Iehovah your God shall chuse, to cause his name to dwell there; thither shall yee bring all that I command you, your burnt-offerings, and your sacrifices, your tithes, and the heave-offering of your hand, and all the choise of your vowes which ye shall vow unto Iehovah. And yee shall rejoyce before Iehovah your God; you, and your sonnes, and your daughters, and your men-servants, and your women-servants, and the Levite that is within your gates, forasmuch as he hath no part nor inheritance with you. Take heed to thy selfe, lest thou offer thy burnt-offerings in every place which thou shalt see. But in the place which Iehovah shall chuse, in one of thy Tribes, there thou shalt offer thy burnt-offerings, and there thou shalt doe all that I command thee.
Notwithstanding, in all the desire of thy soule, thou maist slay and eat flesh, according to the blessing of Iehovah thy God, which he hath given to thee in all thy gates: the uncleane and the cleane may eat thereof, as of the Roe-bucke, and as of the Hart. OnelyOnly the bloud yee shall not eat, yee shall powre it upon the earth as water. Thou maist not eat within thy gates, the tithe of thy corne, or of thy new wine, or of thine oile, or the firstlings of thy herd, or of thy flocke, or any of thy vowes which thou shalt vow, or thy voluntary offerings, or heave-offering of thine hand.
But thou shalt eat it before Iehovah thy God, in the place which Iehovah thy God shall chuse; thou, and thy sonne, and thy daughter, and thy man-servant, and thy woman-servant, and the Levite that is within thy gates: and thou shalt rejoyce before Iehovah thy God, in all that thou puttest thine hand unto. Take heed to thy selfe, lest thou forsake the Levite, all thy daies, upon thy land.
When Iehovah thy God shall enlarge thy border, as he hath spoken unto thee, and thou shalt say, I will eat flesh, because thy sould desireth to eat flesh; in all the desire of thy soule thou maiest eat flesh. If the place which Iehovah thy God shall chuse, to put his name there, be farre from thee, then thou shalt slay of thy herd, and of thy flocke, which Iehovah hath given unto thee, as I have commanded thee: and thou shalt eat within thy gates in all the desire of thy soule. But, as the Roe-bucke and the Hart is eaten, so thou shalt eat it: the uncleane and the cleane shall eat it alike. OnelyOnly bee sure not to eat the blood, for the blood is the soule, and thou shalt not eat the soule with the flesh. Thou shalt not eat it: thou shalt powre it on the earth as water. Thou shalt not eat it, that it may bee well with thee, and with thy sonnes after thee, when thou shalt doe that which is right in the eies of Iehovah. OnelyOnly thy holy things which thou shalt have, & thy vowes, thou shalt take up, and goe unto the place which Iehovah shall chuse. And thou shalt make thy burnt-offerings, the flesh and the blood, upon the Altar of Iehovah thy God; and the blood of thy sacrifices shall be powred out upon the Altar of Iehovah thy God, and thou shalt eat the flesh. Observe and heare all these words which I command thee, that it may bee well with thee, and with thy sons after thee for ever, when thou shalt doe that which is good and right in the cies of Iehovah thy God.
When Iehovah thy God shall cut off the nations from before thee, whither thou goest to possesse them, and thou possessest them and dwellest in their land. Take heed to thy selfe lest thou bee ensnated after them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and lest thou enquire after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I doe likewise. Thou shalt not doe so unto Iehovah thy God; for every abomination to Iehovah which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sonnes and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods. Every word which I command you, that shall yee observe to doe: thou shalt not adde unto it, neither shalt thou diminish from it.
Annotations.
STatutes] Here Moses entreth into the explication of the second commandement, concerning the manner of Gods worship, when Israel should come into Canaan; and proposeth in the 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16 chapters, Statutes for the service of God; and afterwards Iudgments for the repressing of evils.
Vers. 2. destroying] that is, yee shall speedily and utterly destroy; as the Greeke translateth, destroy with destruction. In the Hebrew canons it is said, Wee are commanded to destroy the Idoll, and the ministring vessels thereof, and whatsoever is made for the same, Deut. 12. 2. And in the land of Israel we are commanded to persecute it, untill it bee destroyed out of all our land: but without the land wee are not commanded to persecute it. But every place which wee shall subdue, wee are to destroy every Idoll that is therein, as it is written (in Deut. 12. 3.) and yee shall destroy the names of them out of that place. Maimony in Misneh, treat. of Idolatry, ch. 7. sect. 1. places] as houses, high places, temples, and the like. Hereupon the house of Baal, 2 King. 10. 27. the high places which Solomon and Ieroboam had builded for idolatry, 2 King. 23. 13. 15. were destroyed. But if an house were built for use, and Idols afterwards set up in it, the Hebrewes say, When hee had brought in the Idoll into the house, so long as it was there, the house was unlawfull for any use; when it was taken out, the house was lawfull, Maim. treat. of Idola…y, ch. 8. sect. 4. shall possesse] that is, shall subdue and have dominion over them, as the word often signifieth; see Levit. 25. 45, 46. Ier. 49. 2. Psal. 82. 8. gods] that is, as the Chaldee explaineth it, Idolls: there are gods (so called) many; but into … there is but one God, 1 Cor. 8. 5, 6. mountaines] in such high places, all nations for the most part used to serve their gods: into which corruption Israel sometime fell, 2 King. 17. 10, 11. Ier. 3. 6. Ezek. 20. 28, 29. Hos. 4. 13.
Vers. 3. pillars] or statues, standing Images: of these see Exod. 23. 24. Levit. 26. 1. greves] which were wont to bee as temples unto the heathen, as is noted on Exod. 34. 13. See also the annotations on Deut. 7. 5. gods] in Chaldee, Images of ther Idols. names] whether in speech, (for the name of other gods might not bee heard out of their mouths, Exod. 23. 13.) or imprinted in bookes, graven on pillars, imposed on places, or any other the like. So the Reubenites changed the names of cities, that carried Idoll names, Num. 32. 38. As the beginning of true religion is repentance from dead workes, Heb. 6. 1. so in the constituting of Gods true service, Moses beginneth with the abolishing of all idolatrous monuments; for What agreement hath the temple of God with Idols? 2 Cor. 6. 16.
Vers. 4. not doe so] in any of the former particulars, or such like: as not to destroy or doe evill to Gods sanctuary or synagogues, Psal. 74. 3, 6, 7, 8. not to breake downe his Altars, 1 King. 19. 10. nor to deface any holy writings, or monuments of his name, Ier. 36. 23. The Hebrews say, Whosoever destroyeth any name of the holy pure names, wherby the blessed God is called, is by the law to be beaten; for … of Idols hee saith. And thou shalt destroy the names of them, &c. Thou shalt not doe so to the Lord thy God. Hee that takes away but one stone (by way of destroying) from the Altar, or from the Temple, or from any other part of the Court, is to be beaten. Likewise he that burneth any of the wood of the sanctuary, &c. All the holy Scriptures, and expositions of them, it is unlawfull to burne any of them, or destroy them with hand, except they be such as are written by heretickes, &c. But holy Scriptures when they are old, are to be laid up. Maimony in Iesudei hatorah, ch. 6. sect. 1. 7. 8.
Vers. 5. to put his name there] that is, to have it consecrated unto him, and his divine service. Such was the Tabernacle of Moses, the Temple of Solomon, the Citie Ierusalem, after God had chosen it; for of them God said, My name shall be there, 1 King. 8. 29. and his Name was called upon them, Dan. 9. 18. and put there, 2 King. 21. 4, 9. 1 King. 14. 11. The Chaldee here expoundeth it, to cause … Majestie (or divine presence) to dwell there. Now Christ hath abolished the earthly Ierusalem, and requireth worship in spirit and truth every where, Ioh. 4. 11, 23. shall yee seeke] for answers and oracles, which from the merciemercy-seat, and by Vrim and Thummim, were given to the people, Numb. 7. 89. Exod. 25. 22. Numb. 27. 21. All other places were forbidden; as, Seeke not Bethel, nor enter into Gilgal, &c. Amos 5. 5. shalt thou come] at all times, when thou wilt offer sacrifice, Levit. 17. 8, 9. but three times in the yeare by expresse commandement, Exod. 23. 14.—17. And there the Lord promised to come unto them and blesse them, Exod. 20. 24.
Vers. 6. sacrifices] of all sorts, as sinne-offerings, peace-offerings, and whatsoever pertained to the Alter Sacrifices have their name of slaughter, which were staine, offered, and eaten before the Lord: the Chaldee here expoundeth it, the slaughter (or sacrifice) of your holy things. tithes] the tenth of the h…d and of the flocke, which bo…h Priests and people were to bring and slay before the Lord, and eat them in Ierusalem: whereof see Levit. 27. 32. and the tiches of cor…, &c. whereof see vers. 17. and Deut. 14. 22, 23. heave-offering of your hand] the Greeke translateth, the first-fruits, and in v. …. the first-fruits of your hands: These are the first-fruits spoken of in Deut. 26. 2. &c. which with their hands they brought into the Sanctuary. See the annotations there. vowes, and your voluntaire offerings] such as for Gods blessings they willingly gave unto him. The difference of these voluntarie oblations from vowes, is shewed on Levit. 7. 16. firstlings] which were given to the Priests, for them to eat, after the blood was sprinkled, and the fat burned on the Altar: see Numb. 18. 15, 17.
Vers. 7. Yee shall eat] to wit, such things as were lawfull for the people to eat: for of all the things forementioned, they might not eat. Some were for the Priests to eat before the Lord; some for the people. rejoyce] God is to be served with gladnesse, Psal. 100. 1, 2. and the holy things of God might not be eaten with mourning, Deut. 26. 14. Hos. 9. 4. yee put your hand] Hebr. the putting to (or sending forth) of your hand. This, though it may be applied to that which they might take and eat, of the holy things, as in Gen. 3. 22. yet it seemeth to be more generall, for all things that they should doe, and all blessings that they should receive, as by comparing this phrase in Deut. 15. 10. and 23. 20. and 28. 8. 20. may appeare. So after in vers. 18. houses] that is, housholds, children and such like; as the Chaldee expoundeth it, men of your houses: and so Moses explaineth it in vers. 12.
Vers. 8. which wee doe] the Greeke expoundeth it, which yee doe. Israel committed idolatry in the wildernesse, Act. 7. 42, 43. Howbeit this speech of Moses seemeth rather to meane the true service of God, which was not as yet perfected, neither could be in their travels; as it was after in Canaan. right in his owne eies] that is, which liketh or pleaseth him: so the phrase meaneth, in 2 Sam. 19. 6. 1. Chron. 13. 4. and is often spoken of the corruption of men, as Iudg. 17. 6. and 21. 25. unto which Moses opposeth that which is right in the Lords eies, vers. 25, 28. and chap. 13. 18. There is a way which is right before a man, and the end thereof are the waies of death, Prov. 14. 12.
Vers. 9. the rest] in Chaldee, the house (or place) of rest: meaning the land of Canaan, and in speciall, Ierusalem there, 1 Chron. 23. 25. where after their travels and warres, the Lord gave rest unto his people, as vers. 10. and 1 King. 8. 56. But David being there, speaketh of another rest, which remaineth for people of God, Psal. 95. 11. into which rest, wee that beleeve doe enter, and …ase from our owne workes, Heb. 4, 3, 8, 9, 10.
Vers. 10. in confident safety] or, in security; it meaneth without feare, Iudg. 8. 11. and 18. 7. and without danger of evill, Psal. 78. 53. See the like promise in Levit. 25. 18, 19. This promise is fulfilled in Christ, by whom wee are delivered out of the hands of our enemies, that we might serve God without feare, Luk. 1. 74.
Vers. 11. And there shallbe] or, And it shall bee that the place, &c. See vers. 5. the choice] that is, the best, or fairest, as the Chaldee translateth.
Vers. 12. your gates] the Chaldee explaineth it, your cities: so the Hebrew text sometime explaineth it selfe, as is noted on Exod. 20. 10. no part] of the spoiles or inheritance in the division of the land, but the Lord is his part and inheritance. See Deut. 10. 9. Num. 18. 8.—21.
Vers. 13. lest thou offer] that is, that thou offer not. This precept is often and carefully urged, because the people were prone to fall into the transgression of it, as the histories of Scripture manifest, 1 King. 12, 28, 29, 30. 2 King. 17. 9. 11. And it taught men the unitie of the faith of Christ, and the band of love and peace, to be kept in the heavenly Ierusalem, whither all people should resort, Rev. 21. 24, 25, 26.
Vers. 14. that I command thee] the Greeke addeth, this day. So not the place only, but all other things in Gods service, were to be according to the word of God, because the naturall man (not regenerate by Gods word and spirit) receiveth not the things of the spirit of God, neither can he know them, 1 Cor. 2. 14. and in the things which he knoweth he corrupteth himselfe, Rom. 1. 21. and God would have obedience to his word, rather than sacrifice, 1 Sam. 15. 22.
Vers. 15. Notwithstanding] or Only, as the word signifieth in vers. 16. 26. It is a libertie granted for civill things, but with a limitation. in all the desire of thy soule] the Greeke translateth, in all thy desire, the soule being put for the whole person. It meaneth, whatsoever thou, or thy soule desireth. maist slay] this word is the same that is used for sacrificing, (which also was with slaughter of the creature,) but applied here, and often, to the slaying for ordinary food. Of this the Hebrewes say, It is lawfull to slay (for common food) in any place without the court (of the Sanctuarie;) for they slay in the court none but the holy things of the Altar only. But it is unlawfull to slay common things in the court, either cattell, beast, or bird. And so it is said (in Deut. 12. 21.) If the place be farre from thee, which the Lord thy God shall chuse, &c. then thou shalt slay &c. and eat within thy gates. Here thou art taught, that they slay not flesh for ones desire, but without the place which the Lord hath chosen. And that which is slaine without the place, is lawfull to be eaten within all gates. But he that slaieth common things in the court, that flesh is pure, and unlawfull to be used; but they burie it, &c. Maimony tom. 2. in Shechitah, ch, 2. sect. 1, 2. to the blessing] that is, the liberalitie, or bounteous gift: so restraining all profuse rio…, and keeping men within the limits of their abilitie. thy gates] in the Chaldee, thy cities; and so the Greeke, in every citie. may eat] or shall eat. God would have no difference of persons, nor of places, nor of cleane beasts, (as after followeth) lest there should grow any respect of holinesse in such civil things, which might turne to superstition.
Vers. 16. Only] as the Greeke saith, But the bloud, to wit, of beasts and o… fowles, Lev. 7. 26. this was absolutely forbidden even in civill diet; the reason hereof is noted on Levit. 17. poure it] or shed it on the earth, and cover it with dust, Levit, 17. 13. see the annotations there.
Vers. 17. Thou maist …ot] that is, it is not permitted or lawfull forthee, as the Chaldee explaineth it. gates] in the Greeke and Chaldee, cities; so in vers. 18. and 21. The second tithe which the owners did eat, was holy, and might not be …a…en but in the place where Gods Sanctuarie was: see the notes on Deut. 14. 22, 23. heave-offering] in Greeke, first-fruits; in Chaldee, the separation, that is, the separated thing: see vers. 6. Maimony in Biccurim (or treat. of First-fruits) chap. 3. sect. 3. saith, The heave-offering of thine hand is the first-fruits; and, The Priest that eateth of the first-fruits out of Ierusalem, after that they are brought within the walls, is by the Law to be beaten; for it is said, Thou maist not eat within thy gates, &c. See more on Deut. 26. 2. 4.
Vers. 19. lest thou forsake] that is, that thou forsake not, or neglect not, either by erecting a new ministerie, as did Ieroboam, 2 Chron. 13. 9. or by with-holding thy offerings, the meanes of their livelihood, which is in speciall here intended. So in Neh. 10. 39. we will not forsake the house of our God; where mention is made of bringing up their offerings. The same sinne is called the spoiling of God, Mal. 3. 8. See also Deut. 14. 27. upon thy land] the land of Canaan, out of which in speciall, tithes, first-fruits, and the like were to be paid. The Greeke translateth, all the time that thou shalt live upon the land (or earth.)
Vers. 20. Because thy soule] or, as the Greeke translateth, if thy soule desireth.
Vers. 22. as the Roe-bucke] that is, as common and profane meats, without any respect of holinesse. So after, in Deut. 15. 22, 23.
Vers. 23. Only be sure] or, be strong: the Greeke translateth, Take heed strongly: it meaneth a full and firme purpose of heart, not to eat it at any time. Of this Law, see the notes on Lev. 17. 10. &c. is the soule] figuratively spoken, because the soule (or life) is in the bloud, as is expressed, Lev. 17. 11. not eat the soule] because God gave them that upon the altar, to make an atonement for their soules, Lev. 17. 11, 12.
Vers. 26. holy things] Hebr. holinesses: the Chaldee applieth it to their tithes.
Vers. 27. the flesh and the bloud] both of them were wholly brought to the altar, Levit. 1. The Greeke translateth, the flesh thou shalt offer upon the altar. sacrifices] to wit, peace-offerings, for the flesh of them was eaten by the owners, Levit. 7. 15. upon the altar] the Greeke translateth it, at the base (or foot) of the altar.
Vers. 28. in the eyes] that is, as the Greeke and Chaldee expound it, before the Lord.
Vers. 29. to possesse them] or, to disinherit them; as the Chaldee saith, to cast them out: the Greeke translateth, to inherit their land. God having given direction for the place of his worship, now proceedeth with the things and manner of service which they should performe unto him.
Vers. 30. lest thou be ensnared] that is, deceived in thy minde, and so fall into sinne and destruction, by following their religion. The Greeke translateth, that thou seeke not to follow them. See Exod. 23. 33. As the nations were to be destroyed, so their idolatrous service was to be abolished, that none of their customes should be retained in Israel. How did] Heb. How will, that is, how use they to serve. Hereupon the Hebrewes say, Thou maist not inquire (or aske) concerning the way of the service of an idoll how it is, although thou serve it not; for this thing … to turne after it, and to doe as they doe. Maimony treat. of Idolatry, ch. 2. sect. 2. will I doe] not unto idols, but to the Lord, as the next verse manifesteth. So not onelyonly the worship of false gods, but false or idolatrous worship of the true God, is here forbidden; and all imitation of Idolaters is condemned. So in Levit. 18. 3.
Vers. 31. every abomination] the Chaldee expoundeth, every thing that is abominable before the Lord: in Greeke, the abominations which the Lord hateth. to their gods] the Chaldee expounds it, to their idols. This one particular of burning their children, is named, (all other being implyed) because herein they shewed most zeale and love; as Abraham for sacrificing his sonne at Gods command, is highly commended, Gen. 22. 12. and Israel, when they would shew themselves most studious to please the Lord, inquired about giving the fruit of their body for the sinne of their soule, Mich. 6. 7. and sometime practised this abomination, Psal. 106. 37, 38. Ezek. 23. 37, 39. But God here condemneth the most fervent devotion of Idolaters.
Vers. 32. Every word] or thing: in Chaldee, every commandement. Hereby God appointeth his owne word and law, to bee the onelyonly rule of his service, without imitating the customes of others, or devising any thing of their owne. So in Levit. 18. 4. Deut. 4. 1, 2.