Charles Ellicott Commentary Deuteronomy 12:30

"take heed to thyself that thou be not ensnared to follow them, after that they are destroyed from before thee; and that thou inquire not after their gods, saying, How do these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise." — Deuteronomy 12:30 (ASV)

Take heed to yourself that you be not snared. —A necessary caution. “The fear” of heathen deities often attached itself to their places of worship. It was found necessary to caution Israel against the fear of them and the dread of them in much later times. (See Jeremiah 10:2-5.)