Deuteronomy 12:2
WEB
You shall surely destroy all the places in which the nations that you shall dispossess served their gods: on the high mountains, and on the hills, and under every green tree.
BSB
Destroy completely all the places where the nations you are dispossessing have served their gods—atop the high mountains, on the hills, and under every green tree.
KJV
Ye shall utterly destroy all the places, wherein the nations which ye shall possess served their gods, upon the high mountains, and upon the hills, and under every green tree:
Matthew Henry
Hebrew interlinear
H6
v — wander, lose, perish, destroy
Derivation: a primitive root;
properly, to wander away, i.e. lose oneself; by implication to perish (causative, destroy)
KJV: break, destroy(-uction), not escape, fail, lose, (cause to, make) perish, spend, × and surely, take, be undone, × utterly, be void of, have no way to flee.
vb — perish
אָבַד vb. perish (M I אבד, As. abâtu Dl W 184 Aram אֲבַד, Syriac).—
Qal Pf. א׳ Nu 21:30 +; אָבְדוּ ψ 10:16 + (+ Ez 6:3 𝔊 Co) etc.; Impf. יֹאבַד Jb 3:3 Je 4:9; יֹאבֵ֑ד Jb 20:7 + 2t.; 3fs. תֹּאבַד Dt 22:3 + 4t.; תֹּאבֵ֑ד Jb 8:13 + 3t.; יֹאבְדוּ Ju 5:31 + 3t.; יֹאבֵ֑דוּ Jb 4:9 +; 3fpl. וַתֹּאבַדְנָה֙ I S 9:3; תֹּאבֵדוּן Dt 4:26 +; נֹאבֵ֑ד Jon 1:6, 3:9; נֹאבְדָה Jon 1:14 etc.; Inf. abs. אָבֹד Dt 4:26 + 2t.; cstr. אֲבֹד Dt 7:10 Pr 11:10; אֲבָדְךָ Dt 28:20; אָבְדֶ֑ךָ Dt 28:22; אֲבָדְכֶם Jos 23:13; אָבְדָם Ob 12 Pr 28:28; Pt. אֹבֵד Dt 26:5 + 7t.; cstr. אֹבַד Dt 32:28 (bef. ע? v. Di Bö § 378); etc.
1. perish, die, of individuals (mostly late) Nu 17:27 (∥ גוע & (v. 28) מות), (also Dt 26:5? cf. infr.) Jon 1:6, 14 Jb 31:19 cf. 29:13 Pr 31:6 Est 4:14, 16, 16 Mi 4:9 Je 40:15 cf. Is 57:1 Pr 11:10 28:28 Ec 7:15 ψ 119:92; emphasis on morality Jb 4:20 ψ 146:4 Ec 9:6; Saul & Jonath., under fig. of weapons 2 S 1:27; lion Jb 4:11; caravan Jb 6:18 (cf. Di); cf. אָ׳ חָסִיד מִן־הָאָרֶץ Mi 7:2, וְאָ׳ מֶלֶךְ מֵֽעַזָּה Zc 9:5; perish, be exterminated (judgment for sin), of Israel Lv 26:38 Dt 8:19, 19, 20 28:20, 22 30:18, 18 Je 27:10, 15 cf. 6:21, Ob 12 cf. ψ 80:17 Is 27:13; other nations Dt 7:20 Je 10:15 51:18 ψ 2:12 10:16 83:18 cf. 9:4 Am 1:8 Is 41:11 60:12 cf. Jon 3:9 v. also Ex 10:7 Nu 21:29, 30 (JE) Je 48:46; house of Ahab 2 K 9:8; wicked in general Ju 5:31 Jb 4:9 cf. v 7, ψ 37:20 49:11 68:3 (∥ sim. of melting wax), 73:27 92:10; also Pr 19:9 21:28; לָנֶצַח א׳ Jb 20:7; cf. דֶרֶךְ רְשָׁעִים א׳ ψ 1:6; sq. מֵעַל הָאָ֑רֶץ (of annihilation of Isr.) Dt 4:26, 26 11:17 Jos 23:13, 16 (D); sq. מִתּוֹךְ הַקָּהָל (of Korah’s company) Nu 16:33 (JE); perish, be ruined, destroyed, of inanimate things, e.g. land Je 9:11 (∥ נִצְּתָה כַמִּדְבָּר) cf. 48:8; harvest Jo 1:11; Jonah’s gourd Jon 4:10; riches Je 48:36 Ec 5:13; vessel ψ 31:13; houses Am 3:15 (so oft. As. Dl W); city Ez 26:17 (but del. 𝔊 Co); cf. bamôth Ez 6:3 𝔊 Co; heavens & earth ψ 102:27.
2. fig. perish, vanish, subj. memory Jb 18:17 ψ 9:7; name ψ 41:6 (i.e. be forgotten); vigour Jb 30:2; wisdom Is 29:14; cf. אֹבַד עֵצוֹת Dt 32:28; אֱמוּנָה Je 7:28 (∥ נִכְרְתָה); חָזוֹן Ez 12:22; יוֹם Jb 3:3 (i.e. blotted out); לֵב Je 4:9 (i.e. courage fail); תִּקְוָת ψ 9:19 Pr 10:28 11:7 Ez 19:5 37:11 Jb 8:13; so תַּאֲוַת ψ 112:10 (i.e. come to naught); תּוֹחֶלֶת Pr 11:7, sq. מִן + agent La 3:18; תּוֹרָה + עֵצָה sq. מן + persons negligent Je 18:18 Ez 7:26, cf. Je 49:7; esp. א׳ מָנוֹס מִן־ (i.e. they could not escape) Am 2:14 Je 25:35 Jb 11:20 ψ 142:5.
3. be lost, strayed, asses I S 9:3, 20; sheep Je 50:6 Ez 34:4, 16 ψ 119:176 (fig. of erring men); perh. Dt 26:5.
Pi. caus. of Qal.—Pf. אִבַּד 2 K 21:3 + 2 t.; sf. וָֽאַבֶּדְךָ Co Ez 28:16 cf. infr.; אִבַּדְתִּי Je 15:7; וְאִבַּדְתִּ֫י Ez 6:3 (𝔊 Co וְאָֽבְדוּ) etc.; Impf. יְאַבֵּד Ec 9:18; וִֽיאַבֵּד Ec 7:7 Zp 2:13; 1 s. sf. וָאַבֶּדְךָ Ez 28:16 (for וָאֲאַבּ׳ Ew § 72 a Ol § 79 a Kö I 338 Ges § 68 nn; but Co 3 ms.; v. also Co 38 14); תְּאַבְּדוּן Dt 12:2 etc.; Inf. abs. אַבֵּד Dt 12:2 + 3 t.; cstr. id. Ez 22:27 + etc.; Pt. מְאַבְּדִים Je 23:1.
1. cause to perish, destroy, kill, obj. pers. (mostly late) 2 K 11:1 Est 3:9 4:7 8:5 9:24; ∥ הרג 9:6, 12; ∥ הַשְׁמִיד + הרג 3:13 7:4 8:11; ∥ המם Est 9:24; cf. ψ 119:95; obj. נְפָשׁוֹת Ez 22:27 (del. 𝔊 Co); in judgment, subj. י׳ ψ 5:7; cf. Pr 1:32; sq. מִתּוֹךְ Ez 28:16; obj. a people 2 K 13:7 2 K 19:18 = Is 37:19; Jb 12:23; in judgment Dt 11:4 Je 12:17 15:7 Zp 2:13 ψ 9:6 cf. 21:11; obj. inanimate things esp. idols, bamôth etc., Nu 33:52, 52 (J) Dt 12:2, 2 2 K 21:3 Ez 6:3 (but cf. 𝔊 Co supr.); bars of Zion La 2:9 (∥ שִׁבַּר).
2. fig. cause to vanish, blot out, do away with names of idols Dt 12:3; voice of Babylon Je 51:55; memory of dead Is 26:14; substance Pr 29:3; understanding Ec 7:7; good (טוֹבָה q.v.) Ec 9:18.
3. cause to stray, lose; obj. Isr. under fig. of flock Je 23:1 (∥ הֵפִיץ); abs. Ec 3:6 (∥ בַקֵּשׁ).
Hiph. Pf. וְהֶֽאֱבִיד Nu 24:19; הֶאֱבַ֑דְתָּ Jb 14:19 etc.; Impf. אֹבִידָה Je 46:8 (Ges § 68, 2 R.1). Inf. cstr. הַאֲבִיד 2 K 10:19 + etc.; Pt. מַאֲבִיד Dt 8:20.
1. destroy, put to death, in judgment, (subj. י׳) obj. pers. Lv 23:30 (sq. מִקֶּרֶב עַמָּהּ; ∥ כָּרַת v 29); Je 49:38 (sq. מִשָּׁם); Ob 8 (sq. מֵֽאֱדוֹם); obj. nation, Ammon Ez 25:7 (sq. מן־הארצות; ∥ כָּרַת), cf. v 16; Canaanites Dt 8:20 (sq. מִפְּנֵיכֶם); Canaan = Philistines Zp 2:5 (∥ כָּרַת); esp. Isr. Dt 28:51, 63 (∥ הַשְׁמִיד), cf. Js 7:7; also abs. Je 18:7 (∥ לִנְתוֹשׁ וְלִנְתוֹץ); = 1:10 (+ וְלַהֲרוֹס) = 31:28 (+ וּלְהָרֵעַ); animals Ez 32:13 (sq. מֵעַל מַיִם רַבִּים); cf. Dt 7:10; ψ 143:12 (∥ תַּצְמִית); (human subj.), obj. servants of Baal 2 K 10:19, obj. nation Dt 9:3, cf. Nu 24:19 (E; sq. מֵעִֽיר); 2 K 24:2; cf. Je 46:8; obj. inanimate, chariots Mi 5:9; idols Ez 30:13 (del. BCo).
2. fig., obj. name of kings Dt 7:24 (sq. מִתַּחַת הַשָּׁמָיִם); hope Jb 14:19; voice of mirth etc. Je 25:10 (cf. 51:55 Pi. supr.)
H853
prt — self, even, namely
Derivation: apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of entity;
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
KJV: [as such unrepresented in English].
mark of the accusative
אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
H3605
n-m — whole, all, any, every
Derivation: or (Jeremiah 33:8) כּוֹל; from 3634;
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
KJV: (in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any (manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as many as, (no-) thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole, whoso(-ever).
n.m — the whole
כֹּל once כּוֹל n.m. the whole, all
1. with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every
2. Absolutely:
a. without the art., all things, all
b. with the art. הַכֹּל
(a). where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned
(b). in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)
H4725
n-m — standing, spot, condition
Derivation: or מָקֹם; also (feminine) מְקוֹמָה; or מְקֹמָה; from 6965;
properly, a standing, i.e. a spot; but used widely of a locality (general or specific); also (figuratively) of a condition (of body or mind)
KJV: country, × home, × open, place, room, space, × whither(-soever).
n.m — standing-place
מָקוֹם, מָקֹם 399 n.m. standing-place, place
1.
a. standing-place
b. station, where soldiers are placed
c. post, office
2.
a. place where a thing belongs
b. esp.
(1). place of human abode
(2). of י׳’s abode
3. place
4. in gen. place, locality, spot
5.
a. space, room
b. space, distance, between
6. region, quarter, direction
7. peculiar uses
H834
r — who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that
Derivation: a primitive relative pronoun (of every gender and number);
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.
KJV: × after, × alike, as (soon as), because, × every, for, + forasmuch, + from whence, + how(-soever), × if, (so) that ((thing) which, wherein), × though, + until, + whatsoever, when, where (+ -as, -in, -of, -on, -soever, -with), which, whilst, + whither(-soever), who(-m, -soever, -se). As it is indeclinable, it is often accompanied by the personal pronoun expletively, used to show the connection.
part. of relation — who
אֲשֶׁר part. of relation A sign of relation, bringing the clause introduced by it into relation with an antecedent clause.
adv — in which
בַאֲשֶׁר
a. in (that) which
b. adv. in (the place) where
c. conj. in that, inasmuch as
d. on account of whom?
conj — according as
כַּאֲשֶׁר conj. according as, as, when
1. according to that which, according as, as
2. with a causal force, in so far as, since
3. with a temporal force, when
adv — who
מֵאֲשֶׁר
a. from (or than) that which
b. adv. from (the place) where
c. conj. from (the fact) that …, since
H5647
v — work, serve, till, enslave
Derivation: a primitive root;
to work (in any sense); by implication, to serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc.
KJV: × be, keep in bondage, be bondmen, bond-service, compel, do, dress, ear, execute, husbandman, keep, labour(-ing man, bring to pass, (cause to, make to) serve(-ing, self), (be, become) servant(-s), do (use) service, till(-er), transgress (from margin), (set a) work, be wrought, worshipper,
vb — work
עָבַד 290 vb. work, serve
Qal
1. labour, work, do work
2. work for another, serve him by labour
3. serve as subjects
4. serve God
5. serve י׳ with Levitical service
Niph.
1. be tilled, of land
2. dub. cultivated field
Pu. worked
Hiph.
1. compel to labour as slaves
2. make to serve as subjects
3. cause to serve God
Hoph. be led or enticed to serve
H8033
adv — there, then, thither, thence
Derivation: a primitive particle (rather from the relative pronoun, 834);
there (transferring to time) then; often thither, or thence
KJV: in it, thence, there (-in, of, out), thither, whither.
adv — there
שָׁם adv. there, thither
H1471
n-m n-pr-m — nation, a Gentile, troop, flight
Derivation: rarely (shortened) גֹּי; apparently from the same root as 1465 (in the sense of massing);
a foreign nation; hence, a Gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts
KJV: Gentile, heathen, nation, people.
n.m — nation
גּוֹי 661 n.m. nation, people
n.pr.gent — Goim
גּוֹיִם n.pr.gent. Tid‛al king of Goim
H859
p — thou, thee, ye, you
Derivation: or (shortened); אַתָּ; or אַת; feminine (irregular) sometimes אַתִּי; plural masculine אַתֶּם; feminine אַתֶּן; or אַתֵּנָה; or אַתֵּנָּה; a primitive pronoun of the second person;
thou and thee, or (plural) ye and you
KJV: thee, thou, ye, you.
pron. 2 s. f — thou
אַתְּ, אָ֑תְּ pron. 2 s. f. thou (fem.)
pron. 2 s. m — thou
אַתָּ֫ה, אָ֑תָּה pron. 2 s. m. thou
thou
אתי, i.e. אתִּי, the older & more original form of אַתְּ thou (fem.)
pron. 2 m. pl — you
אַתֶּם pron. 2 m. pl. you (masc.)
pron. 2 f. pl — you
אַתֵּן pron. 2 f. pl. you (fem.)
H3423
v — occupy, driving, possessing, seize, rob, inherit, expel, impoverish, ruin
Derivation: or יָרֵשׁ; a primitive root;
to occupy (by driving out previous tenants, and possessing in their place); by implication, to seize, to rob, to inherit; also to expel, to impoverish, to ruin
KJV: cast out, consume, destroy, disinherit, dispossess, drive(-ing) out, enjoy, expel, × without fail, (give to, leave for) inherit(-ance, -or) magistrate, be (make) poor, come to poverty, (give to, make to) possess, get (have) in (take) possession, seize upon, succeed, × utterly.
vb — take possession of
יָרַשׁ 229 vb. take possession of, inherit, dispossess
Qal
1. take possession of, esp. bu force, have as a possession, often with collat. idea of taking in place of others, succeeding to, inheriting
2. inherit, sq. acc. pers. = be one's heir
3. = impoverish
Niph. be (dispossessed =) impoverished, come to poverty
Pi. the fruit of thy ground shall the cricket get full possession
Hiph.
1. cause to possess or inherit
2. cause (others) to possess or inherit, then gen. dispossess
3. = impoverish
4. nearly = bring to ruin, destroy
5. take possession of a land
H430
n-m — gods, God, magistrates
Derivation: plural of 433;
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative
KJV: angels, × exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), × (very) great, judges, × mighty.
n.m.pl — gods
אֱלֹהִים 2570 n.m.pl.
1. pl. in number.
a. rulers, judges, either as divine representatives at sacred places or as reflecting divine majesty and power
b. divine ones, superhuman beings including God and angels
c. angels
d. gods
2. pl. intensive
a. god or goddess
b. godlike one
c. works of God, or things belongng to him
d. God
3. הָאֱלֹהִים the (true) God
4. אֱלֹהִים = God
H5921
prep — above, over, upon, against
Derivation: properly, the same as 5920 used as a preposition (in the singular or plural often with prefix, or as conjunction with a particle following);
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
KJV: above, according to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, × as, at, because of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, × both and, by (reason of), × had the charge of, concerning for, in (that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-) on, over, than, through(-out), to, touching, × with.
forasmuch as
כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as
subst — above
עַל, עָ֑ל
I. subst. height
II. As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against
1. Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed
a. —
(a). of clothing, etc., which any one wears
(b). With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it
b. Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him
c. Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him
d. על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him
e. חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)
f. Of the ground or basis, on which a thing is done
2. It expresses excess
3. It denotes elevation or pre-eminence
4. It expresses addition
5. It expresses the idea of being extended, or suspended over anything, without however being in contact with it, above, over
6. From the sense of inclining or impending over, על comes to denote contiguity or proximity, Engl. by (or sts. on)
7. In connection with verbs of motion (actual or fig.)
8. By writers of the silver age, על is sts. used with the force of a dative
9. With other particles:
III. As conj.
a. עַל אֲשֶׁר because that
b. עַל כִּי similar in meaning, but less frequent
c. עַל alone:
(a). because
(b). notwithstanding that, although
IV. Compounds:
1. with כְּ (rare and late)
a. as concerning, as upon
b. the like of their deeds is the like of (that which) he will repay
2. מֵעַל from upon, from over, from by
H2022
n-m — mountain, range
Derivation: a shortened form of 2042;
a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)
KJV: hill (country), mount(-ain), × promotion.
n.m — mountain
הַר 568 n.m. mountain, hill, hill-country
1. mountain, hill
2. hill-country, mountain-region
H7311
v — be high, rise, raise
Derivation: a primitive root;
to be high actively, to rise or raise (in various applications, literally or figuratively)
KJV: bring up, exalt (self), extol, give, go up, haughty, heave (up), (be, lift up on, make on, set up on, too) high(-er, one), hold up, levy, lift(-er) up, (be) lofty, (× a-) loud, mount up, offer (up), presumptuously, (be) promote(-ion), proud, set up, tall(-er), take (away, off, up), breed worms.
vb — be high
רוּם vb. be high, exalted, rise
Qal
1.
a. be high, lit. rock (in fig.)
b. esp. of י׳
2. be raised, uplifted
3. be lifted, rise, of ark
Pō‛lēl
1.
a. raise, rear, children
b. cause tree to grow
2. lift up
3. exalt, extol, acc. י׳
Pō‛lal be lift up
Hiph.
1.
a.
(1). raise, rear, c. acc., hand
(2). raise poor
b. lift up voice
c. (take into one's hand and) lift, take up, stone
d. set up, erect, stone
e. set on high, throne
f. lift up, exalt, c. acc. pers.
2. lift up and take away, remove
3. lift off and present, contribute, offer
Hoph. be taken off from; be abolished
Hithpō‛l. and he shall exalt and magnify himself above, etc.; I will raise myself
H1389
n-f — hillock
Derivation: feminine from the same as 1387;
a hillock
KJV: hill, little hill.
n.f — hill
גִּבְעָה n.f. hill
H8478
n-m — bottom, below, in lieu of
Derivation: from the same as 8430;
the bottom (as depressed); only adverbially, below (often with prepositional prefix underneath), in lieu of, etc.
KJV: as, beneath, × flat, in(-stead), (same) place (where...is), room, for...sake, stead of, under, × unto, × when...was mine, whereas, (where-) fore, with.
n.[m.] — the under part
תַּחַת n.[m.] the under part, hence as adv. accus. and prep. underneath, below, instead of
H6086
n-m — tree, wood
Derivation: from 6095;
a tree (from its firmness); hence, wood (plural sticks)
KJV: carpenter, gallows, helve, pine, plank, staff, stalk, stick, stock, timber, tree, wood.
n.m — tree
עֵץ 329 n.m. tree, trees, wood
1. (c. 150 t.)
a. a standing tree
b. coll. trees
2. (c. 175 t.; c. 120 t. pl., to denote pieces [or articles] of wood)
H7488
v a — verdant, new, prosperous
Derivation: from an unused root meaning to be green;
verdant; by analogy, new; figuratively, prosperous
KJV: green, flourishing.
adj — luxuriant
רַעֲנָן adj. luxuriant, fresh
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Verses 1–4
Deuteronomy 12:1–4
From those great original truths, That there is a God, and that there is but one God, arise those great fundamental laws, That that God is to be worshipped, and he only, and that therefore we are to have no other God before him: this is the first commandment, and the second is a guard upon it, or a hedge about it. To prevent a revolt to false gods, we are forbidden to worship the true God in such a way and manner as the false gods were worshipped in, and are commanded to observe the instituted ordinances of worship that we may adhere to the proper object of worship. For this reason Moses is very large in his exposition of the second commandment. What is contained in this and the four following chapters mostly refers to that. These are statutes and judgments which they must observe to do (Deu 12:1), 1. In the days of their rest and prosperity, when they should be masters of Canaan. We must not think that our religion is instituted only to be our work in the years of our servitude, our entertainment in the places of our solitude, and our consolation in affliction; no, when we come to possess a good land, still we must keep up the worship of God in Canaan as well as in a wilderness, when we have grown up as well as when we are children, when we are full of business as well as when we have nothing else to do. 2. All the days, as long as you live upon the earth. While we are here in our state of trial, we must continue in our obedience, even to the end, and never leave our duty, nor grow weary of well-doing. Now,
I. They are here charged to abolish and extirpate all those things that the Canaanites had served their idol-gods with, Deu 12:2, Deu 12:3. Here is no mention of idol-temples, which countenances the opinion some have, that the tabernacle Moses reared in the wilderness was the first habitation that ever was made for religious uses, and that from it temples took their rise. But the places that had been used, and were now to be levelled, were enclosures for their worship on mountains and hills (as if the height of the ground would give advantage to the ascent of their devotions), and under green trees, either because pleasant or because awful: whatever makes the mind easy and reverent, contracts and composes it, was thought to befriend devotion. The solemn shade and silence of a grove are still admired by those that are disposed to contemplation. But the advantage which these retirements gave to the Gentiles in the worship of their idols was that they concealed those works of darkness which could not bear the light; and therefore they must all be destroyed, with the altars, pillars, and images, that had been used by the natives in the worship of their gods, so as that the very names of them might be buried in oblivion, and not only not be remembered with respect, but not remembered at all. They must thus consult, 1. The reputation of their land; let it never be said of this holy land that it had been thus polluted, but let all these dunghills be carried away, as things they were ashamed of. 2. The safety of their religion; let none be left remaining, lest profane unthinking people, especially in degenerate ages, should make use of them in the service of the God of Israel. Let these pest-houses be demolished, as things they were afraid of. He begins the statutes that relate to divine worship with this, because there must first be an abhorrence of that which is evil before there can be a steady adherence to that which is good, Rom 12:9. The kingdom of God must be set up, both in persons and places, upon the ruins of the devil's kingdom; for they cannot stand together, nor can there be any communion between Christ and Belial.
II. They are charged not to transfer the rites and usages of idolaters into he worship of God; no, not under colour of beautifying and improving it (Deu 12:4): You shall not do so to the Lord your god, that is, "you must not think to do honour to him by offering sacrifices on mountains and hills, erecting pillars, planting groves, and setting up images; no, you must not indulge a luxurious fancy in your worship, nor think that whatever pleases that will please God: he is above all gods, and will not be worshipped as other gods are."
Cross-references: Deut 12:1 · Deut 12:2 · Deut 12:3 · Rom 12:9 · Deut 12:4