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Regulations for Eating Sacrificial and Non-Sacrificial Foods

15 On the other hand, you may slaughter and eat meat as you please when the Lord your God blesses you[a] in all your villages.[b] Both the ritually pure and impure may eat it, whether it is a gazelle or an ibex. 16 However, you must not eat blood—pour it out on the ground like water. 17 You will not be allowed to eat in your villages your tithe of grain, new wine, olive oil, the firstborn of your herd and flock, any votive offerings you have vowed, or your freewill and personal offerings. 18 Only in the presence of the Lord your God may you eat these, in the place he[c] chooses. This applies to you, your son, your daughter, your male and female servants, and the Levites[d] in your villages. In that place you will rejoice before the Lord your God in all the output of your labor.[e] 19 Be careful not to overlook the Levites as long as you live in the land.

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Footnotes

  1. Deuteronomy 12:15 tn Heb “only in all the desire of your soul you may sacrifice and eat flesh according to the blessing of the Lord your God which he has given to you.”
  2. Deuteronomy 12:15 tn Heb “gates” (so KJV, NASB; likewise in vv. 17, 18).
  3. Deuteronomy 12:18 tn Heb “the Lord your God.” See note on “he” in 12:5.
  4. Deuteronomy 12:18 tn See note at Deut 12:12.
  5. Deuteronomy 12:18 tn Heb “in all the sending forth of your hands.”

Slaughtering Animals to Eat

15 “But whenever you want, you may slaughter and eat meat within any of your city gates,(A) according to the blessing the Lord your God has given you. Those who are clean or unclean may eat it, as they would a gazelle or deer, 16 but you must not eat the blood; pour it on the ground like water.(B) 17 Within your city gates you may not eat the tenth of your grain, new wine, or fresh oil; the firstborn of your herd or flock; any of your vow offerings that you pledge; your freewill offerings; or your personal contributions.[a] 18 You are to eat them in the presence of the Lord your God at the place the Lord your God chooses—you, your son and daughter, your male and female slave, and the Levite who is within your city gates. Rejoice before the Lord your God in everything you do, 19 and be careful not to neglect the Levite, as long as you live in your land.

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Footnotes

  1. 12:17 Lit or the contributions from your hands