“These are the statutes and judgments, which ye shall observe to do in the land, which the LORD God of thy fathers giveth thee to possess it, all the days that ye live upon the earth.”
Whereby they are admonished to seek none other God.
“And ye shall overthrow their altars, and break their pillars, and burn their groves with fire; and ye shall hew down the graven images of their gods, and destroy the names of them out of that place. overthrow: Heb. break down”
Wherein they sacrificed to their idols. Judg. 2:2
“Ye shall not do so unto the LORD your God.”
Ye shall not serve the Lord with superstitions.
“But unto the place which the LORD your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put his name there, even unto his habitation shall ye seek, and thither thou shalt come:”
1 Kings 8:29 ; 2 Chron. 6:5 ; 2 Chron. 7:12 , 16
“Ye shall not do after all the things that we do here this day, every man whatsoever is right in his own eyes.”
Not that they sacrificed after their fantasies, but that God would be served more purely in the land of Canaan.
“But when ye go over Jordan, and dwell in the land which the LORD your God giveth you to inherit, and when he giveth you rest from all your enemies round about, so that ye dwell in safety;”
It had not been enough to conquer, except God had maintained them in rest under his protection.
“Then there shall be a place which the LORD your God shall choose to cause his name to dwell there; thither shall ye bring all that I command you; your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, your tithes, and the heave offering of your hand, and all your choice vows which ye vow unto the LORD: your choice: Heb. the choice of your vows”
Or, that which ye choose out for your vows.
“But in the place which the LORD shall choose in one of thy tribes, there thou shalt offer thy burnt offerings, and there thou shalt do all that I command thee.”
As was declared ever by the placing of the Ark, as in Shiloh 243 years, or as some write more than 300 years, and in other places till the temple was built.
“Notwithstanding thou mayest kill and eat flesh in all thy gates, whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which he hath given thee: the unclean and the clean may eat thereof, as of the roebuck, and as of the hart.”
Everyone might eat at home as well the beast appointed for sacrifice, as the other. As God hath given thee power and ability.
“Thou mayest not eat within thy gates the tithe of thy corn, or of thy wine, or of thy oil, or the firstlings of thy herds or of thy flock, nor any of thy vows which thou vowest, nor thy freewill offerings, or heave offering of thine hand:”
Meaning, whatsoever was offered to the Lord, might not be eaten, but where he had appointed.
“Only be sure that thou eat not the blood: for the blood is the life; and thou mayest not eat the life with the flesh. be: Heb. be strong”
Hebrew, be strong or constant. Because the life of beasts is in their blood.
“Only thy holy things which thou hast, and thy vows, thou shalt take, and go unto the place which the LORD shall choose:”
That which thou wilt offer in sacrifice.
“Observe and hear all these words which I command thee, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee for ever, when thou doest that which is good and right in the sight of the LORD thy God.”
God by promise bindeth himself to do good to them that obey his word.
“Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise. by: Heb. after them”
By following their superstitions and idolatries, and thinking to serve me thereby.
“Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God: for every abomination to the LORD, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods. to the: Heb. of the”
They thought nothing too dear to offer to their idols.
“What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.”
Deut. 4:2 ; Josh. 1:7 ; Prov. 30:6 ; Rev. 22:18