Deuteronomy 12:13-14 meaning

The requirements for worshipping the LORD when living in the Promised Land are brought to a close. Moses emphasizes the importance of obeying these commands to the letter.

Once again, Moses commanded Israel to be careful that you do not offer your burnt offerings in every cultic place you see. The word cultic is not in the Hebrew text, but it can be inferred from the context. In v. 2, the word “places” refers to the locations where the Canaanites worshipped their pagan gods and goddesses. This is probably the case in this verse. The Suzerain LORD does not want His vassals to worship, celebrate, and rejoice in places that were dedicated to other gods. This included “high mountains, hills and every green tree” (Deuteronomy 12:2).

Instead, the Israelites were to worship in the place which the LORD chooses in one of their tribes. They were to worship Him only in the places He specified (Deuteronomy 12:5), where the LORD chose. It was there the people shall offer their burnt offerings, and there you shall do all I command you.

The LORD wants obedience from His covenant people. They did not have to guess as to how to worship Him. To worship the pagan deities was to embrace self-seeking, with its child sacrifice and immorality. Each person bribed the false god to get their way. The True God demanded His people to stay far from such paganism, and worship only Him. Only in this way could Israel be a place filled with self-governing people who sought to love their neighbor as themselves.

Biblical Text:

¹³“Be careful that you do not offer your burnt offerings in every cultic place you see, ¹⁴but in the place which the Lord chooses in one of your tribes, there you shall offer your burnt offerings, and there you shall do all that I command you.

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Additional Resources

Book Theme

The book of Deuteronomy is the fifth and last book of the Torah (“law”). It continues the story of the first 4 books and picks up exactly where the book of Numbers ends (with the people on the plain of Moab). Therefore, as we set the context for the book of Deuteronomy, it is important that we briefly summarize the theme of the previous books to see how the story of God unfolds.

Genesis describes God’s plan to bless the Israelites and the world through one man named Abraham (Gen. 12:1-3). Exodus focuses on God’s loving act by which He rescued the Israelites from Egypt in order to have a covenant relationship with them. Once the children of Israel are redeemed, Leviticus instructs them to live a holy life that reflects the life of their covenant redeemer (cf. Lev. 19). Since the first generation of the Israelites failed to obey God wholeheartedly, the book of Numbers displays a strong contrast between God’s faithfulness and the nation’s failure. That is why the book of Deuteronomy reiterates and expands on the covenant to a new generation of Israelites poised to enter and conquer the Promised Land. The message of the book is centered around two key terms: love and loyalty (Deut. 6:4-5).

Outline of Deuteronomy:

I. Introduction: Moses will explain the law (1:1 – 5)
II. Moses’ First Sermon – a Recounting of the LORD’s Faithfulness (1:6 – 4:43)
III. Introduction to Second Sermon on expositing the Law (4:44 – 49)
IV. Moses’ Second Sermon – an Exposition of the Law Given at Mt. Sinai (5:1 – 26:19)
V. Script for Covenant Renewal Ceremony Once they enter the land (27:1 – 29:1)
VI. Moses’ Third Sermon – a Call to Obedience (29:2 – 30:20)
VII. The Last Acts of Moses (31:1 – 34:12)

Chapter Context

This chapter begins the next major section of the book of Deuteronomy—namely, the specific stipulations of the covenant between Israel and God (Deut. 12:1- 26:15). Moses is still in the midst of his admonition to the nation of Israel prior to their imminent crossing of the Jordan River to enter the Promised Land. He adds to his historical review of lessons they have learned, and now turns to review the terms and stipulations of the covenant Israel agreed to enter with God. It is the format of the ancient Suzerain-Vassal Treaty, but instead of a superior king making a treaty with a lesser king, this is the King of the universe with each Israelite. It is a treaty admonishing them to be self-governing.

These chapters will be presented as mini-seminars within Moses’ discourse to Israel just prior to entering the Promised Land on how and why the Ten Commandments should be kept.

Following that approach, Chapter 12 is a sermon about the first commandment—“You shall have no other gods before me” (Deut. 5:7). In this chapter, Moses exhorts the Israelites to consecrate themselves to their Suzerain (Ruler) God and to live according to His precepts. This entails destroying all the Canaanite religious sites and objects upon entering the Promised Land, thus removing every trace of pagan worship. Unlike the Canaanites who worship their many gods in many places, the Israelites are to worship the one true God (Yahweh) in the place which He chooses for His name to dwell.

Deuteronomy 12 can be outlined as follows:

Regulations Concerning Worship (Deut. 12:1 – 14)
- Destroy All Pagan Worship (Deut. 12:1 – 3)
- Worship the LORD at His place (Deut. 12:4 – 7)
- Worship the LORD with Offerings (Deut. 12:8 – 12)
- Conclusion (Deut. 12:13 – 14)
Regulations Concerning Blood (Deut. 12:15 – 28)
- Rules about the Slaughter of Animals for Food (Deut. 12:15 – 16)
- Rules about Animals Dedicated to the LORD (Deut. 12:17 – 19)
- Rules about Eating Meat (Deut. 12:20 – 28)
  - Meat not Intended for Use in Worshipping the LORD (Deut. 12:20 – 25)
  - Meat Intended for Use in Worshipping the LORD (Deut. 12:26 – 28)
Regulations Concerning Pagan Gods (Deut. 12:29 – 32)

Deuteronomy 12:13-14 meaning

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The Bible Project - Deuteronomy Summary

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