Chapter Twelve
Purge the Land and Worship Only God
12:1 “These are the statutes and rules that you shall be careful to do in the land that the LORD, the God of your fathers, has given you to possess, all the days that you live on the earth. 2 You shall surely destroy all the places where the nations whom you shall dispossess served their gods, on the high mountains and on the hills and under every green tree. 3 You shall tear down their altars and dash in pieces their pillars and burn their Asherim with fire. You shall chop down the carved images of their gods and destroy their name out of that place.
Beginning with this chapter through to Deuteronomy 26:15, Moses presents the rules and regulations of God’s law. He starts with the now familiar warning for the people of Israel to be careful and do as YHWH desires them to do so that they will be able to remain in the land. The Hebrew word translated here as ‘earth’ is ‘ǎḏā·mā(h)’,[1] which can be translated in several ways,[2] regardless of how it is translated, the warning Moses desperately wants his people to understand is that as long as they are obedient to God they can stay in the Promised Land, but once they have disobeyed and turn their backs on God, they will be taken out of the land.
The first issue to resolve upon entering the land is to purify the land. There are two very important lessons Moses wants to convey here. First is that holy people cannot live in unholy places. For many years some of the most vile and despicable practices took place in Canaan, it needs to be cleansed. Second is that the people are to learn that those foreign practices are unacceptable before YHWH and that He will choose where and how they worship Him.
Moses begins with the instructions that they are to look for and destroy all of the locations where the people had worshiped their false gods. A favorite place for many pagan rituals was on a high spot, manmade, or natural. The Bible often identifies pagan worship with high places, (see Leviticus 26:30; Numbers 33:52; 1 Kings 3:2-3; 14:23; 2 Kings 12:3; 14:4; 15:4, 35; 17:29; 23:13-14; Isaiah 16:12; Jeremiah 32:35). It is interesting to note that elevated sites are still preferred worship locations for many pagan religions today.
The reference to these pagan worship locations also being “under every green tree,” confuses many readers. The Hebrew structure of this verse is considered difficult to translate, plus while the Hebrew ‘rǎ·’ǎnān’[3] is correctly translated as ‘green’, the term can also refer to the plant’s ability to flourish or grow large. One commentator suggests translating this verse: “But the peoples [or, nations] that live there worship other gods. So after you capture the land, you must completely destroy the likenesses [or, images] of these gods, whether they are on mountains, hills, or in the shade of large leafy trees.”[4]
They were to tear down their altars (Hebrew ‘mizb·ḥōṯ’,[5] a place to sacrifice or slaughter an animal) when they were found and break into pieces all of their pillars (Hebrew ‘mǎṣ·ṣē’·ḇōṯ’,[6] refers to something set upright, often a block of stone representing an entity). Then they were to burn their Asherim (plural of Hebrew ‘ǎšē·rā(h)’,[7] name of Canaanite fertility goddess, the companion of Baal, the name is also associated with a wooden object, believed to be an image of Asherah or some other sex-related representation)[8] and chop down their carved images (Hebrew ‘pesî·lê’,[9] from the word that means to hew or to cut, referring to an idol). Through all of these efforts, the names and any representation of these false gods were to be erased from the land.
12:4 You shall not worship the LORD your God in that way. 5 But you shall seek the place that the LORD your God will choose out of all your tribes to put his name and make his habitation there. There you shall go, 6 and there you shall bring your burnt offerings and your sacrifices, your tithes and the contribution that you present, your vow offerings, your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herd and of your flock. 7 And there you shall eat before the LORD your God, and you shall rejoice, you and your households, in all that you undertake, in which the LORD your God has blessed you.
Moses tells the people of Israel that they are not to worship YHWH in the same way the pagans worship their gods. While we can certainly comprehend that there should be a significant difference between the worship of God and that of a false god, what Moses is commanding is of vital importance. Before exploring what he means, we should first look at two words, those being ‘worship’ and ‘way’. The Hebrew word ‘āśāh’,[10] can be found over 2,600 times in the Old Testament and is rarely translated as ‘worship’, it is usually translated as ‘do’, a verb most often to convey the notion of doing some activity. This caution would be similar to James’ admonition to Christians, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” (James 1:22) God was to be obeyed. The Hebrew word ‘kēn’,[11] depending on context, can be an adjective or as an adverb as it is used here in the word ‘way’, often translated as so, since, or therefore, which then conveys some element to consider (quantity, quality, cause and effect, or time) in the comparison. Not only were they not to mimic the way or mannerisms of pagan worship, but they were also now restricted to where and how they were to interact with God.
God was to choose the location where He was to “put His name” and make His habitation there (Hebrew ‘šiḵn’,[12] found only this once in the Bible, referring to a dwelling place). They are to travel to that location. This is where they were to bring their burnt offerings,[13] sacrifices,[14] tithes (the giving of one tenth, see Genesis 14:20; Leviticus 27:30-33; Numbers 18:21-32), contributions (see Exodus 25:2-9; 29:27-30),[15] vow offerings,[16] freewill offerings (see Exodus 35:29; 36:3; Leviticus 7:16; 22:18-23; 23:38; Numbers 15:3; 29:39) and firstborn animals.[17] At that time, before the Temple was built, the Tabernacle was portable and could be in the land belonging to any one of the tribes, the choice was God’s, not theirs. When they were to eat before God (for example for a Peace/Fellowship Offering, see Leviticus 3:1-17; 7:11-36)[18] they were to eat and celebrate at the same location. It is interesting to note that in the book of Deuteronomy Moses often associates the location where God would inhabit on earth with that of His name, possibly to express that the location belongs to God, but is not limited to inhabiting a single location.
Deuteronomy regularly describes the chosen place as the one where God will “establish” His name. It expresses this idea with the verbs s-w-m, literally, “place,” and sh-k-n, literally, “(make) dwell.” Other passages in the Bible paraphrase these expressions by stating that the place is called by God’s name. This implies that God’s name is established in the Temple because it is called “The Temple of YHVH,” indicating that it is His possession. That God’s name is established at the Temple means that He is accessible there in worship, since it is the focus of His attention. Thus, when Solomon dedicates the Temple and prays that God will answer prayers uttered there, demonstrating that it is rightly called by His name, God assures him, “I consecrate this House which you have built and I set My name there forever. My eyes and My heart shall ever be there” (1 Kings 8:29, 43; 9:3). The expression “make His name dwell (sh-k-n) there” seems to allude to passages that speak of God Himself as dwelling in the sanctuary or among the Israelites. By speaking instead of God’s name as dwelling in the chosen place, Deuteronomy seeks to correct the impression that God Himself literally dwells there: only His name “dwells” there, whereas God Himself is in heaven.’[19]
12:8 “You shall not do according to all that we are doing here today, everyone doing whatever is right in his own eyes, 9 for you have not as yet come to the rest and to the inheritance that the LORD your God is giving you.
Moses tells them that they are not to continue doing as they have been doing. The word that is translated ‘do’ in verse eight is the same Hebrew word translated in verse four as ‘worship’. Another way of translating verse eight would be, “Your pattern of worship will change. Today all of you are doing as you please.” (Deuteronomy 12:8, NLT) God had allowed them to worship Him as they chose, however, when they enter the Promised Land, that was to change.[20]
12:10 But when you go over the Jordan and live in the land that the LORD your God is giving you to inherit, and when he gives you rest from all your enemies around, so that you live in safety, 11 then to the place that the LORD your God will choose, to make his name dwell there, there you shall bring all that I command you: your burnt offerings and your sacrifices, your tithes and the contribution that you present, and all your finest vow offerings that you vow to the LORD. 12 And you shall rejoice before the LORD your God, you and your sons and your daughters, your male servants and your female servants, and the Levite that is within your towns, since he has no portion or inheritance with you. 13 Take care that you do not offer your burnt offerings at any place that you see, 14 but at the place that the LORD will choose in one of your tribes, there you shall offer your burnt offerings, and there you shall do all that I am commanding you.
These rules and regulations will be applicable only after they have entered the Promised Land, and they are enjoying rest after defeating their enemies. Here Moses again emphasizes that God will choose the location where He is to receive the various offerings, sacrifices, and where they are to celebrate the festivals (see verses 5-6). Moses also mentions that the Levites that are to settle in some other tribe’s land are to be included in these celebrations as they will not have any land inheritance of their own.
Then Moses warns again that they should make every effort to not offer any burnt offerings at any location other than the one location that YHWH has chosen.
12:15 “However, you may slaughter and eat meat within any of your towns, as much as you desire, according to the blessing of the LORD your God that he has given you. The unclean and the clean may eat of it, as of the gazelle and as of the deer. 16 Only you shall not eat the blood; you shall pour it out on the earth like water.
Moses presents what is often referred to as “secular slaughter,” the killing and slaughtering of animals for food that are not intended to be offered to God. This is a change from the earlier regulation: “If any one of the house of Israel kills an ox or a lamb or a goat in the camp, or kills it outside the camp, and does not bring it to the entrance of the tent of meeting to offer it as a gift to the LORD in front of the tabernacle of the LORD, bloodguilt shall be imputed to that man. He has shed blood, and that man shall be cut off from among his people.” (Leviticus 17:3-4) This regulation was only practical when the Tabernacle was in the center of the camp where everyone stayed nearby.
The people of Israel are allowed to eat as much meat as they wanted, although Moses recognizes that the amount of meat depends on how much they were blessed by YHWH. He mentions that both the ceremonially clean and the unclean person may eat of that meat. This is not a reference to the meat itself as the rules regarding their consumption of meat from only clean animals still applied (see Leviticus chapter 11). Since the regulations listed above regarding the killing and slaughtering of domestic animals (see Leviticus 17:3-4) did not apply to wild animals such as the gazelle and deer, which could be eaten by either the clean or unclean person, Moses uses them as a comparative example. They could now eat the meat of an ox, lamb, or goat without having to travel to the Tabernacle, nor be ceremonially clean, just like they were able to do with the meat from killing wild animals.
Moses quickly points out that they are still restricted from consuming the blood (see Genesis 9:4; Leviticus 3:17; 7:26; 17:10-16; 19:26). They are to continue the practice of draining the blood from any animal they kill for food and pour out it out on the ground (see Leviticus 17:13).
12:17 You may not eat within your towns the tithe of your grain or of your wine or of your oil, or the firstborn of your herd or of your flock, or any of your vow offerings that you vow, or your freewill offerings or the contribution that you present, 18 but you shall eat them before the LORD your God in the place that the LORD your God will choose, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant, and the Levite who is within your towns. And you shall rejoice before the LORD your God in all that you undertake. 19 Take care that you do not neglect the Levite as long as you live in your land.
In addition to the tithes, offerings, sacrifices, and festivals to commence at the location chosen by God, all the food that is to be eaten in conjunction with any of the offerings or sacrifices, must also be done at that same location. They were to rejoice and celebrate before YHWH. Moses again reminds them to include any Levite that might be living in their towns in those celebrations.
12:20 “When the LORD your God enlarges your territory, as he has promised you, and you say, ‘I will eat meat,’ because you crave meat, you may eat meat whenever you desire. 21 If the place that the LORD your God will choose to put his name there is too far from you, then you may kill any of your herd or your flock, which the LORD has given you, as I have commanded you, and you may eat within your towns whenever you desire. 22 Just as the gazelle or the deer is eaten, so you may eat of it. The unclean and the clean alike may eat of it. 23 Only be sure that you do not eat the blood, for the blood is the life, and you shall not eat the life with the flesh. 24 You shall not eat it; you shall pour it out on the earth like water. 25 You shall not eat it, that all may go well with you and with your children after you, when you do what is right in the sight of the LORD.
Moses repeats and adds explanation of the revision given in verses 15-16. When God enlarges their territory (they were to slowly expand into the land as their population increased, see Exodus 23:29-30; Deuteronomy 7:22-24), the people would be further away from the location of the Tabernacle or any other centralized location (such as Jerusalem would be much later). If they wanted to eat meat, they could without any restrictions other than the need to drain the blood. Moses adds the warning that if they consume the blood, that will interfere with their relationship with God.
12:26 But the holy things that are due from you, and your vow offerings, you shall take, and you shall go to the place that the LORD will choose, 27 and offer your burnt offerings, the flesh and the blood, on the altar of the LORD your God. The blood of your sacrifices shall be poured out on the altar of the LORD your God, but the flesh you may eat. 28 Be careful to obey all these words that I command you, that it may go well with you and with your children after you forever, when you do what is good and right in the sight of the LORD your God.
Perhaps to clarify, Moses reminds them that anything that pertains to God, including the tithes, offerings, sacrifices, making of vows, and the keeping of festivals, are considered holy and must be followed through at the location where YHWH chooses. Which early on would be at the location of the Tabernacle and then later the Temple, as that is where the bronze altar of YHWH would be. Moses once more adds the warning to be obedient to God, so that everything will go well for them and their descendants and remain in the land.
Considerations
What is the main role of mythology? A common belief among those that study mythology is that it contains man's attempt to explain natural phenomena. Even though the myth may cross over into reality, it is still most often considered a myth, a fictional story to help explain how things work and how man can interact with the supernatural characters presented in the myth. While most people simply discount the stories as being just stories, we should recognize that mythology can serve other roles, they provide both a smokescreen to prevent the truth from being known and, at the same time, provide an alternate explanation. Today mythology is considered a fanciful narration used to explain things before science came along. While that is most often true, there was a greater issue at work, these stories often eclipsed the truth, God's truth. Sadly, much of today’s so-called “scientific explanations” are based on more myth than fact.
Instead of a belief and trust in God, many sought or established an alternate entity with which to interact. One such group of entities were the gods and goddesses of fertility.[21] It was believed that if you desired to have good crops, hearty livestock, or numerous healthy children, you needed to properly appeal to those entities, of which Asherah was one (of several others). Regarding Asherah, it was not enough to establish her as just a goddess, her story included being the wife of El, the chief God, whose most famous son of seventy gods was Baal (per the Ugaritic texts found in Ras Shamra, Syria)[22]. Sadly this story still affects those who prefer to embrace deceitful stories rather than the truth. It seems that much of what we call mythology could be considered demonically influenced.
The rituals associated with these mythological entities, especially those related to fertility, were often sexually motivated, which is why the word Asherah is also associated with sex and symbols of having sexual intercourse, such as trees and other wooden objects being carved into various phallic symbols (the KJV translates this word as ‘groves’).
Do Not Serve False Gods - Part One
12:29 “When the LORD your God cuts off before you the nations whom you go in to dispossess, and you dispossess them and dwell in their land, 30 take care that you be not ensnared to follow them, after they have been destroyed before you, and that you do not inquire about their gods, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their gods?—that I also may do the same.’ 31 You shall not worship the LORD your God in that way, for every abominable thing that the LORD hates they have done for their gods, for they even burn their sons and their daughters in the fire to their gods.
When they have entered the land and after God has driven the previous occupants out of the land, they are to make every effort to ignore everything that had anything to do with their worship. Moses returns to the subject of pagan worship and the following of false gods. He tells them here that they are not to inquire about any aspect of serving their gods. He makes it clear that YHWH cannot be worshiped in the same way and that their ways are abominable to YHWH. Moses gives one example of why God hates their practices, by pointing out that some even require the burning of their own children, as any form of human sacrifice is forbidden by God.[23]
12:32 “Everything that I command you, you shall be careful to do. You shall not add to it or take from it.
Moses offers another stern warning to do exactly as he is telling them to do and not to add any new regulations nor reject any and choose to not do any of them.[24] The caution against idol worship continues through the next chapter.
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[1] Strong’s Hebrew 127.
[2] See Considerations under Genesis 2:25 and commentary under Genesis 3:17-19; Exodus 20:24.
[3] Strong’s Hebrew 7488.
[4] Bratcher, R. G., & Hatton, H. A. (2000). A handbook on Deuteronomy (p. 227). New York: United Bible Societies.
[5] Strong’s Hebrew 4196.
[6] Strong’s Hebrew 4676.
[7] Strong’s Hebrew 842.
[8] See commentary under Exodus 34:13-14.
[9] Strong’s Hebrew 6456.
[10] Strong’s Hebrew 6213.
[11] Strong’s Hebrew 3651.
[12] Strong’s Hebrew 7933.
[13] See commentary under Genesis 8:20; Leviticus 1:1-17 and the Overview of Offerings after Leviticus chapter seven.
[14] See commentary under Genesis 31:54-55.
[15] See also commentary under Exodus 35:4-9.
[16] See commentary under Genesis 28:16-23 and Leviticus 27:1-8.
[17] See commentary under Exodus 13:1-2.
[18] See also the Overview of Offerings.
[19] Tigay, J. H. (1996). Deuteronomy (p. 120). Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society.
[20] See also Considerations after the Introduction to Leviticus regarding worship.
[21] See also Considerations under Genesis 31:54-55.
[22] Fisher, L. R., Smith, D. E., & Rummel, S. (Eds.). (1975). Ras Shamra parallels: The texts from Ugarit and the Hebrew Bible (Vol. 2). Rome: Pontificium Institutum Biblicum.
[23] See Considerations under Genesis 22:15-19.
[24] See Considerations under Deuteronomy 4:9-14.