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20 When the Lord your God expands your territory as he promised you, and you say, “I would like to eat meat,” because you are hungry for meat, then you may eat it to your heart’s content. 21 If the place that the Lord your God will choose to establish his name is too far away for you, then you may slaughter[a] animals from your herd and flock which the Lord has given you, just as I commanded you, and you may eat within your cities as you desire. 22 Yes, just as gazelle and deer are eaten, you may eat it. The unclean and the clean person alike may eat it. 23 Only be very sure not to eat the blood, because the blood is the life, and you must not eat the life together with the flesh. 24 Do not eat it. Pour it out on the ground like water. 25 Do not eat it, so that it may go well for you and for your children after you when you do what is right in the eyes of the Lord.

26 But as for the holy things that you have and your voluntary offerings, gather them up and take them to the place that the Lord will choose. 27 Offer your burnt offerings, both the flesh and the blood, on the altar of the Lord your God. The blood of the sacrifice is to be poured out on the altar of the Lord your God, but the meat you may eat.

28 Be careful that you obey all these words that I am commanding you so that it may go well for you and for your children after you in the distant future when you do what is good and right in the eyes of the Lord your God.

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Footnotes

  1. Deuteronomy 12:21 The word translated slaughter often refers to sacrifices, but sacrifices were to be offered only at the Dwelling, which was the only legitimate sanctuary.

20 “When Yahweh your God enlarges your territory just as he has promised[a] to you, and you say ‘I want to eat some meat,’ because you want it,[b] whenever you desire[c] you may eat meat. 21 If the place that[d] Yahweh your God will choose to put his name there is too far from you, and you slaughter any of your herd and any of your flock that Yahweh has given to you just as I have commanded you, then you may eat whenever you desire in your towns.[e] 22 Surely just as the gazelle and the deer is eaten, so both the unclean and the clean together may eat it. 23 Only, be sure not to eat the blood, because the blood is the life, and you shall not eat the life with the meat. 24 You shall not eat it, but on the ground you shall pour it out like water. 25 You shall not eat it, so that it will go well[f] for you and your children after you, because then you will be doing what is[g] right in the eyes of Yahweh. 26 Only your holy objects that are yours[h] and your votive gifts you must carry and you must bring to the place that Yahweh will choose. 27 And you shall offer your burnt offerings, the flesh and the blood on the altar of Yahweh your God, and the blood of your sacrifices you shall pour out on the altar of Yahweh your God, but the meat you may eat. 28 Be careful to obey[i] all these things that I am commanding you, so that it will go well[j] for you and for your children after you forever,[k] because then you will be doing what is[l] good and right[m] in the eyes of Yahweh your God.

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Footnotes

  1. Deuteronomy 12:20 Literally “spoken”
  2. Deuteronomy 12:20 Literally “because your soul/inner self desires it”
  3. Deuteronomy 12:20 Literally “at/in all the wanting of your soul/inner self”
  4. Deuteronomy 12:21 Or “where”
  5. Deuteronomy 12:21 Literally “gates”
  6. Deuteronomy 12:25 Literally “it/he is good”
  7. Deuteronomy 12:25 Hebrew “the”
  8. Deuteronomy 12:26 Literally “that are for you”
  9. Deuteronomy 12:28 Literally “Watch carefully and listen”
  10. Deuteronomy 12:28 Literally “he/it is good”
  11. Deuteronomy 12:28 Literally “until ever”
  12. Deuteronomy 12:28 Hebrew “the”
  13. Deuteronomy 12:28 Hebrew “the right”