Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 12:3

For this command to destroy their altars, their pillars, their Asherim, and graven images of their gods, see 7.5. The only differences between the two verses is that here the fuller expression the graven images of their gods is used, whereas in 7.5 it is simply “their graven images”; and the last two verbs burn and hew down are reversed in 7.5.

Destroy their name out of that place: this summarizes the whole process of doing away completely with Canaanite religion and worship. Their name means “the names of their gods” (see similar use of “the name” in 7.24). Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje translates “They will be completely forgotten”; BÍBLIA para todos Edição Comum has “cause to vanish from that land anything that will bring those gods to mind.” We may also translate as “Destroy the images of these gods so completely that no one will ever worship them in these places again.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 12:4

You shall not do so: the opposite applies to Yahweh. The Israelites are not to follow Canaanite rites and customs in the worship of their God; so New Revised Standard Version “You shall not worship the LORD your God in such ways.” Good News Translation has “Do not worship the LORD your God in the way that these people worship their gods” (similarly Contemporary English Version).

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 12:5

This verse has the first statement about “the one place of worship” (see also verses 14, 18, 21, 26). By the time this book was written, Jerusalem was the place that had been chosen by Yahweh where he was to be worshiped, in the Temple on Mount Zion.

You shall seek the place: this is from the point of view of Moses and the Israelites in Moab. God will choose the exact place, and the Israelites are to seek it. This is not in the sense that God will keep his choice a secret, which they will have to discover, but that they are to go directly to the place God chooses, since he would make his choice known. So Revised English Bible has “you are to resort to the place,” Bible en français courant “you will go to worship him at the place,” and Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje “the LORD will choose … you will go there.” In many languages it will be more natural style to use the pronoun “you” rather than “the people” as Good News Translation does.

The place … out of all your tribes: the place will be, of course, within the territorial limits of the land of Israel. So we may say, for example, “a place somewhere in Israel” or “a place somewhere in the land.”

To put his name and make his habitation there: this is a way of saying that a place of worship, a temple, will be built there for the worship of Yahweh. Good News Translation offers a good model: “come into his presence and worship him.” Bible en français courant has “to live there and manifest his presence,” Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje “the place where he will live and where people will go to worship him.”

An alternative translation model for this verse is:

• The LORD will choose a place somewhere in Israel [or, the land] where he will live and reveal his presence. You must find that place and go to worship the LORD there.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 12:6

There are seven different offerings listed here.
(1) Burnt offerings: animals completely burned, except for the hide, as an offering to God. Good News Translation calls them “sacrifices to be burned,” and many other translations term them “whole burnt offerings.”
(2) Sacrifices: the most general term possible; it usually means animal sacrifices whose meat is shared by the deity and the worshiper (or the priest).
(3) Tithes: this refers to giving the LORD one tenth of a person’s gross income—in most instances, agricultural products such as grain, wine, and olive oil (see 14.22-23). In some languages the idea of tithes in this context may have to be translated by a phrase; for example, “one tenth of all the produce…” or “one part of … out of any ten.”
(4) The offering that you present: a voluntary offering of whatever nature (Revised English Bible “contributions”; New Revised Standard Version “donations”), which the worshiper presented with his hands (see Exo 25.2-3).
(5) Votive offerings: any offering made as payment of a vow or promise. Good News Translation has “the gifts that you promise to the LORD.”
(6) Freewill offerings: offerings not required by law, which could include sacrifices of any kind. Another way to express this is “things you voluntarily give to him.”
(7) The firstlings of your herd and of your flock: or, as Good News Translation has it, “the first-born of your cattle and sheep.” On “cattle” see 2.35 and 5.14.

If it is impossible to come up with different terms or expressions for these various offerings, a general term will have to be used that will include any and all kinds of sacrifices; for example, “There you must offer all your sacrifices to Yahweh” or “There you must slaughter your animals and offer them and your other gifts to Yahweh.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 12:7

Revised Standard Version follows the form and order of the Hebrew text; the last part of the verse is especially difficult to read. Good News Translation uses a more natural style, which makes for easier understanding.

You shall eat before the LORD your God: Moses is talking about the sanctuary, or temple, in which the Israelites will offer their sacrifices. So Bible en français courant has “at the sanctuary of the LORD.” We may also use something like “And there, in the place where the LORD your God is present, ….” The meal is a sacred meal; in some sacrifices part of the animal offered in sacrifice was eaten by the worshipers. This should be made clear, as Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje has it: “You and your families will eat of the meat of the sacrifices.” Or we may say, for example, “You and your families will eat the meat of the animals you have slaughtered and offered to the LORD.”

For the LORD your God see 1.6.

And you shall rejoice: or “and your hearts will be full of joy.”

You and your households: the word “household” includes everyone in the one home, not only family members but servants and slaves also. So Contemporary English Version has “You and your family and your servants.”

All that you undertake: this includes all the work they have done, especially in cultivating their fields and tending their herds and flocks.

Blessed you means “made you prosper” or “caused you to be successful.”

Bible en français courant offers a good model for the whole verse:

• It is there, also, at the sanctuary of the LORD, that you and your families will eat together the sacred meals; you will be full of joy because of the success that the LORD your God has given you in all that you have worked for.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 12:8

This verse states that at the time of Moses’ speech, before the people had entered the land of Canaan, there was lack of order in their worship rites and sacrifices, especially the lack of a single place where the sacrifices are to be offered. This is not a statement about the lack of political and social order, as in the similar text, Judges 21.25.

You shall not do according to all that we are doing here this day: the change in person from “you” to “we” may prove difficult, but it is a matter of fact. Moses, the speaker, will not be with the people in the land of Canaan. The command is that the people of Israel are to act differently in the Promised Land from the way they are acting here this day (again there is emphasis on “this day”). Good News Translation keeps the “you” in both instances, with “you must not do as you have been doing. Until now you have….” Translators in certain languages will find this a helpful model.

Every man doing whatever is right in his own eyes: as the whole context shows, this refers to sacrifices and worship. Good News Translation offers a good model. “Until now you have been worshiping as you please.” An alternative model may be “Until now [or, today] you have been offering sacrifices to Yahweh anywhere you want to.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 12:9

This verse explains why at the present time, in Moab, the Israelites are not following God’s laws for worship. Only after they have settled in Canaan will they be able to obey those laws.

You have not as yet come to: this is better expressed as “you have not yet arrived at,” or, to make it plainer, “you have not yet entered the land where….”

To the rest and to the inheritance: see 3.20. The two nouns are a compound phrase meaning “the inheritance where you will rest.” The land of Canaan is spoken of as an inheritance, meaning that it is God’s gift to the people. It is nearly always connected with the statement that the Israelites themselves will defeat the peoples of Canaan and take possession of their territory. In 1.39 the related verb is used, “(cause) to inherit”; in 3.28 the same verb, with Joshua as subject, is translated by Revised Standard Version “Joshua … shall put them in possession of the land” (see also 4.21, 28). A translation should not give the idea that “inherit” means that the people are going to receive the land after God dies. Good News Translation makes this clear, with “the land that the LORD your God is giving you.”

The noun rest means primarily security, safety from enemies (as the next verse makes plain). Bible en français courant has “the territory that the LORD your God will give you to possess so that you may have a peaceful life there”; Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje “the land that the Eternal, our God, is giving you, a land where you will live in peace.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 12:10

This verse amplifies and expands on verse 9. In Hebrew verses 10-11 are one long, complex sentence; Revised Standard Version faithfully reproduces the vocabulary and structure of the original. However, in many languages translators should divide these verses into three or more sentences (see Good News Translation).

Go over the Jordan: see 4.14.

The land which the LORD your God gives you to inherit: see previous verse, and 1.8.

The meaning of rest is here explained as live in safety; their enemies will not pose a threat to them. Bible en français courant offers a good model: “He will keep you secure from all the enemies that surround you, and you will live in safety.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .