Deuteronomy 12:10-14

12:10 When you do go across the Jordan River 1  and settle in the land he 2  is granting you as an inheritance and you find relief from all the enemies who surround you, you will live in safety. 3  12:11 Then you must come to the place the Lord your God chooses for his name to reside, bringing 4  everything I am commanding you – your burnt offerings, sacrifices, tithes, the personal offerings you have prepared, 5  and all your choice votive offerings which you devote to him. 6  12:12 You shall rejoice in the presence of the Lord your God, along with your sons, daughters, male and female servants, and the Levites in your villages 7  (since they have no allotment or inheritance with you). 8  12:13 Make sure you do not offer burnt offerings in any place you wish, 12:14 for you may do so 9  only in the place the Lord chooses in one of your tribal areas – there you may do everything I am commanding you. 10 

1 tn The word “River” is not in the Hebrew text, but has been supplied in the translation for clarity.

2 tn Heb “the Lord your God.” See note on “he” in 12:5.

3 tn In the Hebrew text vv. 10-11 are one long, complex sentence. For stylistic reasons the translation divides this into two sentences.

4 tn Heb “and it will be (to) the place where the Lord your God chooses to cause his name to dwell you will bring.”

5 tn Heb “heave offerings of your hand.”

6 tn Heb “the Lord.” See note on “he” in 12:5.

7 tn Heb “within your gates” (so KJV, NASB); NAB “who belongs to your community.”

8 sn They have no allotment or inheritance with you. See note on the word “inheritance” in Deut 10:9.

10 tn Heb “offer burnt offerings.” The expression “do so” has been used in the translation for stylistic reasons to avoid redundancy.

11 sn This injunction to worship in a single and central sanctuary – one limited and appropriate to the thrice-annual festival celebrations (see Exod 23:14-17; 34:22-24; Lev 23:4-36; Deut 16:16-17) – marks a departure from previous times when worship was carried out at local shrines (cf. Gen 8:20; 12:7; 13:18; 22:9; 26:25; 35:1, 3, 7; Exod 17:15). Apart from the corporate worship of the whole theocratic community, however, worship at local altars would still be permitted as in the past (Deut 16:21; Judg 6:24-27; 13:19-20; 1 Sam 7:17; 10:5, 13; 2 Sam 24:18-25; 1 Kgs 18:30).