121 "These are the statutes and the judgments which you shall carefully observe in the land which the Lord , the God of your fathers , has given you to possess as long e as you live on the earth . 2 "You shall utterly destroy all the places where e the nations whom you shall dispossess serve their gods , on the high mountains and on the hills and under every green tree . 3 " You shall tear down their altars and smash their sacred pillars and burn their Asherim with fire , and you shall cut down the engraved images of their gods and obliterate their name from that place . 4 "You shall not act like this toward the Lord your God .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Deuteronomy 12:1-4
Commentary on Deuteronomy 12:1-4
(Read Deuteronomy 12:1-4)
Moses comes to the statutes he had to give in charge to Israel; and begins with such as relate to the worship of God. The Israelites are charged not to bring the rites and usages of idolaters into the worship of God; not under colour of making it better. We cannot serve God and mammon; nor worship the true God and idols; nor depend upon Christ Jesus and upon superstitious or self-righteous confidences.