Deuteronomy 12:13-19

Third Statement of the Law of the One Sanctuary

In the Sg. address and with phrases characteristic of that form. In substance much the same as the two previous statements, the zebaḥimbeing curiously omitted from the list of offerings. Deuteronomy 12:15 f. are clearly a later insertion. We see from this statement how a law tended in the hands of the deuteronomists to grow both in content and form.

Deuteronomy 12:13. Take heed to thyself See on Deuteronomy 6:12.

burnt offerings -Olôthalone without zebaḥim. This may have been the original form of the law. Contrast Deuteronomy 12:6; Deuteronomy 12:11.

in every place that thou seest Peculiar to this statement: i.e. every sacred placeused as such by the Canaanites on the conspicuous positions described in Deuteronomy 12:2. Thou seest, cp. Ezekiel 20:28, when I had brought them into the land … then they saw(or looked out for) every high hill and every thick tree and offered there, etc.

Deuteronomy 12:14. See on Deuteronomy 12:5: here in one of thy tribesinstead of out of all thy tribes.

Deuteronomy 12:15. Notwithstanding … Only Both = Heb. raḳ, used to introduce exceptions or qualifications to the laws, 10 times, and 10 more in the rest of the book (see on Deuteronomy 10:15). On the contents of these verses see Deuteronomy 12:20 which they anticipate, disturbing at the same time the list of offerings begun in Deuteronomy 12:13 and continued in Deuteronomy 12:17. The immediate connection of Deuteronomy 12:17 with Deuteronomy 12:14 is clear. On these grounds Deuteronomy 12:15 are generally taken as a later insertion. Note, too, the Pl. ye shall not eatin 16. The Pl. does not occur in the rest of this statement of the law and may well be due to the hand that has made this addition; as so many of these sporadic changes of address are found in editorial additions. The LXX confirms the Pl. here: the Sam. Sg. may be due to harmonising.

Deuteronomy 12:17. Direct continuation of Deuteronomy 12:13, completing the list of offerings to be brought to the one altar. On the contents see on Deuteronomy 12:6; Deuteronomy 12:11: the phraseology is however, characteristic of the Sg. passages.

Thou mayest not Heb., lit. thou shalt not be able: in the sense thou mustor darest notonly in Sg. passages: here, Deuteronomy 16:5; Deuteronomy 17:15; Deuteronomy 22:3, or with he, Deuteronomy 21:16; Deuteronomy 22:19; Deuteronomy 22:29; Deuteronomy 24:4.

within thy gates Thy homestead or town of residence: used almost exclusively with Sg. (Deuteronomy 5:14; Deuteronomy 12:17 f., Deuteronomy 12:21; Deuteronomy 14:21; Deuteronomy 14:27-29; Deuteronomy 15:22; Deuteronomy 16:11; Deuteronomy 16:14; Deuteronomy 17:8; Deuteronomy 24:14; Deuteronomy 26:12; Deuteronomy 31:12, cp. Deuteronomy 28:57). Only one Pl. passage has it, Deuteronomy 12:12.

Deuteronomy 12:18. See on Deuteronomy 12:5; Deuteronomy 12:7; Deuteronomy 12:12.

Deuteronomy 12:19. Take heed, etc.] See on Deuteronomy 6:12.

thou forsake not the Levite, etc.] So Deuteronomy 14:27.