Devarim-Chap-12-Vv-1-15
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Please Note: Some alterations or
(additions) have been made relating to ‘Names’ and ‘Attributes’ of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, having been corrected like it once was pre the “Masoretic Text”.
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Remember
the following truth from our beloved Torah!
“Ye shall NOT ADD TO
THE WORD which I command you, NEITHER
SHALL YE DIMINISH FROM IT, that ye may keep
the commandments of יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloleichem, which I command you”. Davarim -
Deuteronomy 4:2. (JPS-1917).
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Part One:
With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
Foreword:
Deuteronomy (Sefer Devarim) Chapter 12 marks a major transition: the shift from general exhortations to the specific ‘Mitzvot’ (commandments) that govern life within the Land of Israel.
Introduction:
As the Israelites prepare to cross the Jordan, Moses introduces a revolutionary concept: the centralization of worship. Up until this point, during the desert wanderings, private ‘altars’ (bamot) were occasionally permitted. However, once settled in the Promised Land, the Hebraic population are commanded to establish a single, central Sanctuary. This is not just about geography; it is about spiritual unity. By destroying the remnants of idolatry and gathering in one place “which יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloheychem shall choose”, the nation reinforces that there is only One אֱלֹהִים - Elohim (God) and One Truth!
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Let us enjoy
Deuteronomy Chapter 12:1-15 with a verse by verse item with Explanations: (JPS-1917 version of the Torah).
Verse 1: “These are the statutes and the ordinances, which ye shall observe to do in the land...”
Explanation: This serves as a formal preamble. The “land” is the essential backdrop; many of these laws are “commandments dependent on the Land” (Mitzvot HaTelyot Ba’Aretz), meaning they become obligatory only upon crossing the Jordan.
Verses 2-3: “Ye shall surely destroy all the places, wherein the nations… served their gods… ye shall break down their altars...”
Explanation: Before the holy Temple can be built, the profane must be removed. Judaism requires a “clean slate” in the Land. We do not just ignore idolatry; we actively eradicate its physical presence so that the land itself is purified.
Verse 4: “Ye shall not do so unto יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם- the LORD your Eloheychem”.
Explanation: This is a dual command. First, it warns against worshipping יְהוָה - the LORD using the same methods as idolaters (e.g., human sacrifice or cultic rituals). Second, the Sages derive from here the prohibition against erasing or destroying the Name of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim or any part of a holy structure. But they have removed the Sacred Name already, See Psalm 53 where the Name יְהוָה - LORD was eradicated in the Hebrew section, into Elohim and in the English His Blessed Name, became ‘אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’. Thus rabbis have completly desecrated יְהוָה - the LORD - Elohim’s command as written in Deuteronomy 4:2. Which can be seen further at the top of this page.
Verse 5: “But unto the place which unto יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם- the LORD your Eloheychem shall choose... even unto His habitation shall ye seek, and thither thou shalt come.”
Explanation: This refers to the eventual establishment of the Temple in Jerusalem. We do not choose the place based on our convenience; we seek out where the Shekhinah (Divine Presence) chooses to dwell.
Verses 6-7: “And thither ye shall bring your burnt-offerings... and ye shall eat before unto יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם- the LORD your Eloheychem, and ye shall rejoice...”
Explanation: Service to אֱלֹהִים - Elohim is not meant to be somber or distant. It involves the family eating together in a state of holiness (Kedusha). True joy (Simcha) is found when our physical sustenance (the meat of the offerings) is elevated to a spiritual act.
Verses 8-9: “Ye shall not do after all the things that we do here this day... for ye are not as yet come to the rest and to the inheritance...”
Explanation: Moses notes that the “informality” of the desert, where people might have offered sacrifices more freely, must end. “Rest” refers to Shilo, and “Inheritance! refers to Jerusalem. Once we had a permanent home, our service requires permanent structure.
Verses 10-12: “But when ye go over the Jordan... then it shall come to pass that the place which unto יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם- the LORD your Eloheychem shall choose... thither shall ye bring all that I command you...”
Explanation: Note the inclusion of the “Levite”, the “stranger”, the “fatherless”, and the “widow” in verse 12. Centralized worship ensures that the vulnerable members of society are included in the national celebration and supported by the tithes brought to the Sanctuary.
Verses 13-14: “Take heed to thyself that thou offer not thy burnt-offerings in every place that thou seest; but in the place which יְהוָה - the LORD shall choose...”
Explanation: This is a firm warning against “spiritual DIY”. We cannot simply worship wherever we feel “inspired”. Discipline and communal standards are what keep the Jewish people unified.
Verse 15: “Notwithstanding thou mayest kill and eat flesh within all thy gates, after all the desire of thy soul...”
Explanation: This
introduces “secular slaughter” (Basar Ta’avah). While sacrifices must be brought to the
Temple, Moses clarifies that if you simply want to eat meat for dinner, you may
do so anywhere provided it is slaughtered according to the laws (which will be
expanded upon in the following verses).
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My Closing Message:
The message of Part One on this page, is clear: Holiness requires boundaries. By restricting the highest forms of worship to a single location, the Torah prevents the splintering of the Hebrew faith into localized cults. It teaches us that while אֱלֹהִים - Elohim is everywhere, our focus must be unified.
In Part Two, I will reflect on how this balance between “sacred space” (the Temple) and “everyday life” (eating at home) allows a Hebrew to live a life that is holy these days, both in the Synagogue or at the dining room table”.
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שָׁלוֹם
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