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and you shall break down their altars, and dash in pieces their pillars, and burn their Asherim with fire; and you shall cut down the engraved images of their gods; and you shall destroy their name out of that place.

Verse Takeaways

1

A Mandate for Total Eradication

Commentators explain that this verse commands a thorough and complete removal of all pagan worship sites. This wasn't just about avoiding idolatry, but physically destroying every element: stone altars, sacred pillars, wooden idols (referred to as "Asherim" or "groves"), and graven images. The goal was to leave no trace of these practices in the land where God's presence would dwell.

See 3 Verse Takeaways

Book Overview

Deuteronomy

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Commentaries

4

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes

On Deuteronomy 12:3

18th Century

Theologian

Their groves - Understand this as their idols of wood; and see the note on Deuteronomy 7:5.

Charles Ellicott

Charles Ellicott

On Deuteronomy 12:3

19th Century

Bishop

Destroy the names. —The substitution in later times of bosheth for baal in the names Jerubbaal (Jerubbesheth), E…

John Gill

John Gill

On Deuteronomy 12:3

17th Century

Pastor

And you shall overthrow their altars
Which were of stone, as Jarchi observes; whereas the altar ordered to be made b…

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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry

On Deuteronomy 12:1–4

17th Century

Minister

Moses comes to the statutes he was to entrust to Israel; and begins with such as relate to the worship of God. The Israelites are charged not to br…