NOTES for Deu 12:1-32

The legislation of the Book of Deuteronomy begins with the demand for the centralization of Yahwist worship. Here for the first time it is said with complete clarity: there is only one place chosen by God for His altar, and there all sacrifices must be offered, while all other festivals during which animals are slaughtered and meat is eaten are neither sacrifices nor sacred meals. Moreover, it is stated directly here that a multitude of altars is a sign of paganism, and among Yahwists, who have one God, there must also be one altar.

Such logic may seem too straightforward, but it was not accidental. It should be noted that the real centralization of Yahwist worship in Israel, or more precisely in Judah, took place only in the seventh century, during the reign of King Josiah, who in his religious policy was guided precisely by the instructions of the Book of Deuteronomy, which at that time was called simply the Book of the Torah, or the Book of the Law. This step made it possible at once to put an end to all the remnants of paganism that still existed in the country. Indeed, if there is one Temple and, accordingly, one altar, it is far easier to track to whom sacrifices are being offered there. In earlier times, when there were many altars in the country, including Yahwist ones, it was much harder to fight pagan cults. Alongside the well-known and revered sanctuaries that had existed already in the time of the Patriarchs, there were also many tribal, clan, and family altars and sanctuaries, and only those who came to those altars knew whom they worshiped there.

Now, after the centralization of worship, the religious life of the country, at least its public life, was in full view of everyone and concentrated in one place. Apart from the question of dating the Book of Deuteronomy, one could say that the problem mentioned became urgent, if not in the time of Moses, then in the time of Joshua, immediately after the conquest of the land.

There was also something else here, something connected with spiritual life as such. From ancient times people had known how to choose and find places suitable for their altars, places where it was convenient for them to worship their gods. Here the situation was directly opposite: one had not to choose a place of worshiping God according to one's own taste, but to go where God would indicate. He, not the human person, had to choose the meeting place. It seems simple and clear, but fulfilling the requirement set out in the Book of Deuteronomy was another lesson in following God step by step, something so necessary for the people on their spiritual and historical path.