Saadia's Tafsir on Devarim 12 (Parashat Re’eh)

Devarim 12:1

אֵלֶּה הַחֻקִּים וְהַמִּשְׁפָּטִים אֲשֶׁר תִּשְׁמְרוּן לַעֲשׂוֹת בָּאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר נָתַן יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵי אֲבֹתֶיךָ לְךָ לְרִשְׁתָּהּ כָּל-הַיָּמִים--אֲשֶׁר-אַתֶּם חַיִּים עַל-הָאֲדָמָה

. . . .

These are the first of the statutes and ordinances which you shall keep and act by, in the land which God, the Lord of your fathers, has given you to possess — for all the length of time that you are alive upon the earth.

Devarim 12:2

אַבֵּד תְּאַבְּדוּן אֶת-כָּל-הַמְּקֹמוֹת אֲשֶׁר עָבְדוּ-שָׁם הַגּוֹיִם אֲשֶׁר אַתֶּם יֹרְשִׁים אֹתָם--אֶת-אֱלֹהֵיהֶם עַל-הֶהָרִים הָרָמִים וְעַל-הַגְּבָעוֹת וְתַחַת כָּל-עֵץ רַעֲנָן

. . . .

And it is that you shall destroy all the places where the nations — whom you are dispossessing by your power — worshipped with their objects of worship, upon the high mountains and upon the hillocks, and beneath every lush tree.

Devarim 12:3

וְנִתַּצְתֶּם אֶת-מִזְבְּחֹתָם וְשִׁבַּרְתֶּם אֶת-מַצֵּבֹתָם וַאֲשֵׁרֵיהֶם תִּשְׂרְפוּן בָּאֵשׁ וּפְסִילֵי אֱלֹהֵיהֶם תְּגַדֵּעוּן וְאִבַּדְתֶּם אֶת-שְׁמָם מִן-הַמָּקוֹם הַהוּא

. . . . .

And pull down their altars, and shatter their stone pillars; and their cultic poles — burn them with fire; and the graven images of their objects of worship — hew them down; and destroy their names from that place.

Devarim 12:4

לֹא-תַעֲשׂוּן כֵּן לַיהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם

You shall not do so to God your Lord.

Devarim 12:5

כִּי אִם-אֶל-הַמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר-יִבְחַר יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם מִכָּל-שִׁבְטֵיכֶם לָשׂוּם אֶת-שְׁמוֹ שָׁם--לְשִׁכְנוֹ תִדְרְשׁוּ וּבָאתָ שָּׁמָּה

. . .

But to the place which God your Lord shall choose from among all your tribes, to let His light dwell therein — seek out His dwelling until you make your way thither.

Devarim 12:6

וַהֲבֵאתֶם שָׁמָּה עֹלֹתֵיכֶם וְזִבְחֵיכֶם וְאֵת מַעְשְׂרֹתֵיכֶם וְאֵת תְּרוּמַת יֶדְכֶם וְנִדְרֵיכֶם וְנִדְבֹתֵיכֶם וּבְכֹרֹת בְּקַרְכֶם וְצֹאנְכֶם

. . . .

And you shall bring there your burnt-offerings and your sacrifices, and your tithes and your raised-offerings, and your votive-offerings and your freewill-offerings, and the firstborn of your cattle and of your flock.

Devarim 12:7

וַאֲכַלְתֶּם-שָׁם לִפְנֵי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם וּשְׂמַחְתֶּם בְּכֹל מִשְׁלַח יֶדְכֶם אַתֶּם וּבָתֵּיכֶם--אֲשֶׁר בֵּרַכְךָ יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ

. . . . .

And you shall eat them there, before God your Lord, and rejoice in all to which your hands have been extended — you and your households — as God your Lord has provided for you.

Devarim 12:8

לֹא תַעֲשׂוּן--כְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר אֲנַחְנוּ עֹשִׂים פֹּה הַיּוֹם אִישׁ כָּל-הַיָּשָׁר בְּעֵינָיו

. .

You shall not do from these matters as we are doing today — every person according to what seems good to him.

Devarim 12:9

כִּי לֹא-בָאתֶם עַד-עָתָּה--אֶל-הַמְּנוּחָה וְאֶל-הַנַּחֲלָה אֲשֶׁר-יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ נֹתֵן לָךְ

. .

For you have not yet come to the resting-place and the inheritance which God your Lord is giving you.

Devarim 12:10

וַעֲבַרְתֶּם אֶת-הַיַּרְדֵּן וִישַׁבְתֶּם בָּאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר-יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם מַנְחִיל אֶתְכֶם וְהֵנִיחַ לָכֶם מִכָּל-אֹיְבֵיכֶם מִסָּבִיב וִישַׁבְתֶּם-בֶּטַח

. . . .

But when you have crossed the Jordan and settled in the land which God your Lord is granting you as inheritance, and He has given you rest from all your enemies round about you, and you have settled in security —

Devarim 12:11

וְהָיָה הַמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר-יִבְחַר יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם בּוֹ לְשַׁכֵּן שְׁמוֹ שָׁם--שָׁמָּה תָבִיאוּ אֵת כָּל-אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוֶּה אֶתְכֶם עוֹלֹתֵיכֶם וְזִבְחֵיכֶם מַעְשְׂרֹתֵיכֶם וּתְרֻמַת יֶדְכֶם וְכֹל מִבְחַר נִדְרֵיכֶם אֲשֶׁר תִּדְּרוּ לַיהוָה

. . . . . . .

then, whatever place God your Lord shall choose, to let His light dwell therein — thither shall you come, accompanied by all that I command you: your burnt-offerings and your sacrifices, and your tithes and your raised-offerings, and the choicest of your votive-offerings which you vow to God.

Devarim 12:12

וּשְׂמַחְתֶּם לִפְנֵי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם--אַתֶּם וּבְנֵיכֶם וּבְנֹתֵיכֶם וְעַבְדֵיכֶם וְאַמְהֹתֵיכֶם וְהַלֵּוִי אֲשֶׁר בְּשַׁעֲרֵיכֶם כִּי אֵין לוֹ חֵלֶק וְנַחֲלָה אִתְּכֶם

. . . . . .

And rejoice in them before God your Lord — you and your sons and your daughters, and your male servants and your maidservants, and the Levite who is in your settlements, for he has no portion and inheritance with you.

Devarim 12:13

הִשָּׁמֶר לְךָ פֶּן-תַּעֲלֶה עֹלֹתֶיךָ בְּכָל-מָקוֹם אֲשֶׁר תִּרְאֶה

. .

Take heed, lest you offer your offering in whatever place you see fit.

Devarim 12:14

כִּי אִם-בַּמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר-יִבְחַר יְהוָה בְּאַחַד שְׁבָטֶיךָ--שָׁם תַּעֲלֶה עֹלֹתֶיךָ וְשָׁם תַּעֲשֶׂה כֹּל אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוֶּךָּ

. . .

But only in the place which God shall choose among one of your tribes — there you shall offer your offering, and there you shall do all that I command you.

Devarim 12:15

רַק בְּכָל-אַוַּת נַפְשְׁךָ תִּזְבַּח וְאָכַלְתָּ בָשָׂר כְּבִרְכַּת יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ אֲשֶׁר נָתַן-לְךָ--בְּכָל-שְׁעָרֶיךָ הַטָּמֵא וְהַטָּהוֹר יֹאכְלֶנּוּ כַּצְּבִי וְכָאַיָּל

. . . . .

However, whenever your soul desires meat, slaughter and eat — according to the provision which God your Lord has given you, in all your other towns; and it is permitted that the clean and the unclean may eat of it, just as one eats the meat of the gazelle and the deer.

Devarim 12:16

רַק הַדָּם לֹא תֹאכֵלוּ עַל-הָאָרֶץ תִּשְׁפְּכֶנּוּ כַּמָּיִם

.

Except the blood — you shall not eat it; rather pour it upon the earth like water.

Devarim 12:17

לֹא-תוּכַל לֶאֱכֹל בִּשְׁעָרֶיךָ מַעְשַׂר דְּגָנְךָ וְתִירֹשְׁךָ וְיִצְהָרֶךָ וּבְכֹרֹת בְּקָרְךָ וְצֹאנֶךָ וְכָל-נְדָרֶיךָ אֲשֶׁר תִּדֹּר וְנִדְבֹתֶיךָ וּתְרוּמַת יָדֶךָ

. . . .

And it is not permitted that you eat in your settlements the tithes of your grain and your juice and your oil, and the firstborn of your cattle and your flock, and your vows which you vow, and your freewill-offerings and your raised-offerings.

Devarim 12:18

כִּי אִם-לִפְנֵי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ תֹּאכְלֶנּוּ בַּמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר יִבְחַר יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ בּוֹ--אַתָּה וּבִנְךָ וּבִתֶּךָ וְעַבְדְּךָ וַאֲמָתֶךָ וְהַלֵּוִי אֲשֶׁר בִּשְׁעָרֶיךָ וְשָׂמַחְתָּ לִפְנֵי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ בְּכֹל מִשְׁלַח יָדֶךָ

. . . . .

But before God your Lord shall you eat them, in the place which He shall choose — you and your son and your daughter and your male servant and your maidservant, and the Levite who is in your settlements; and rejoice before God your Lord in all to which your hand has been extended.

Devarim 12:19

הִשָּׁמֶר לְךָ פֶּן-תַּעֲזֹב אֶת-הַלֵּוִי כָּל-יָמֶיךָ עַל-אַדְמָתֶךָ

.

And take heed lest you neglect the Levite all the length of your sojourn in your land.

Devarim 12:20

כִּי-יַרְחִיב יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ אֶת-גְּבֻלְךָ כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר-לָךְ וְאָמַרְתָּ אֹכְלָה בָשָׂר כִּי-תְאַוֶּה נַפְשְׁךָ לֶאֱכֹל בָּשָׂר--בְּכָל-אַוַּת נַפְשְׁךָ תֹּאכַל בָּשָׂר

. . .

And when God your Lord enlarges your territory as He has promised you, and you say: 'I would eat meat' — out of your soul's desire for it — then eat it whenever you desire.

Devarim 12:21

כִּי-יִרְחַק מִמְּךָ הַמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר יִבְחַר יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ לָשׂוּם שְׁמוֹ שָׁם וְזָבַחְתָּ מִבְּקָרְךָ וּמִצֹּאנְךָ אֲשֶׁר נָתַן יְהוָה לְךָ כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוִּיתִךָ--וְאָכַלְתָּ בִּשְׁעָרֶיךָ בְּכֹל אַוַּת נַפְשֶׁךָ

. . . . . .

And if the place which God your Lord shall choose, to let His light dwell therein, be far from you, then slaughter from your cattle and your flock which God your Lord has provided for you, as I have commanded you, and eat it in your settlements whenever your soul desires it.

Devarim 12:22

אַךְ כַּאֲשֶׁר יֵאָכֵל אֶת-הַצְּבִי וְאֶת-הָאַיָּל--כֵּן תֹּאכְלֶנּוּ הַטָּמֵא וְהַטָּהוֹר יַחְדָּו יֹאכְלֶנּוּ

. .

But just as the gazelle and the deer are eaten, so shall you eat it — it being permitted for the unclean and the clean alike to eat of it.

Devarim 12:23

רַק חֲזַק לְבִלְתִּי אֲכֹל הַדָּם כִּי הַדָּם הוּא הַנָּפֶשׁ וְלֹא-תֹאכַל הַנֶּפֶשׁ עִם-הַבָּשָׂר

. . .

Only be firm in not eating the blood, for it is the dwelling of the soul; and you shall not eat the soul together with the meat.

Devarim 12:24

לֹא תֹּאכְלֶנּוּ עַל-הָאָרֶץ תִּשְׁפְּכֶנּוּ כַּמָּיִם

.

Since you shall not eat it — rather pour it upon the earth like water.

Devarim 12:25

לֹא תֹּאכְלֶנּוּ--לְמַעַן יִיטַב לְךָ וּלְבָנֶיךָ אַחֲרֶיךָ כִּי-תַעֲשֶׂה הַיָּשָׁר בְּעֵינֵי יְהוָה

. .

And since you shall not eat it in this manner, it shall go well for you and for your children after you — when you do what is right before God.

Devarim 12:26

רַק קָדָשֶׁיךָ אֲשֶׁר-יִהְיוּ לְךָ וּנְדָרֶיךָ תִּשָּׂא וּבָאתָ אֶל-הַמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר-יִבְחַר יְהוָה

. . .

Except your holy-things — whatever you may have of them — and your vows: carry them and bring them to the place which God shall choose.

Devarim 12:27

וְעָשִׂיתָ עֹלֹתֶיךָ הַבָּשָׂר וְהַדָּם עַל-מִזְבַּח יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ וְדַם-זְבָחֶיךָ יִשָּׁפֵךְ עַל-מִזְבַּח יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ וְהַבָּשָׂר תֹּאכֵל

. .

And offer your burnt-offerings, their flesh and their blood, complete upon the altar of God your Lord; and of the blood of your sacrifices it shall be poured upon His altar, and you shall eat their flesh.

Devarim 12:28

שְׁמֹר וְשָׁמַעְתָּ אֵת כָּל-הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוֶּךָּ לְמַעַן יִיטַב לְךָ וּלְבָנֶיךָ אַחֲרֶיךָ עַד-עוֹלָם--כִּי תַעֲשֶׂה הַטּוֹב וְהַיָּשָׁר בְּעֵינֵי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ

. . . . . .

Keep and accept all these matters which I command you, so that it may go well for you and for your children after you forever — since you do what is good and right before God your Lord.

Devarim 12:29

כִּי-יַכְרִית יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ אֶת-הַגּוֹיִם אֲשֶׁר אַתָּה בָא-שָׁמָּה לָרֶשֶׁת אוֹתָם--מִפָּנֶיךָ וְיָרַשְׁתָּ אֹתָם וְיָשַׁבְתָּ בְּאַרְצָם

. . .

And when God your Lord cuts off the nations into whose midst you are entering to dispossess them by your power — and when you have dispossessed them and settled in their place —

Devarim 12:30

הִשָּׁמֶר לְךָ פֶּן-תִּנָּקֵשׁ אַחֲרֵיהֶם אַחֲרֵי הִשָּׁמְדָם מִפָּנֶיךָ וּפֶן-תִּדְרֹשׁ לֵאלֹהֵיהֶם לֵאמֹר אֵיכָה יַעַבְדוּ הַגּוֹיִם הָאֵלֶּה אֶת-אֱלֹהֵיהֶם וְאֶעֱשֶׂה-כֵּן גַּם-אָנִי

. . . .

take heed lest you be ensnared into following them after they have been destroyed from before you; and do not seek after their objects of worship, saying: 'How did these nations worship them? — I too shall do likewise.'

Devarim 12:31

לֹא-תַעֲשֶׂה כֵן לַיהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ כִּי כָל-תּוֹעֲבַת יְהוָה אֲשֶׁר שָׂנֵא עָשׂוּ לֵאלֹהֵיהֶם--כִּי גַם אֶת-בְּנֵיהֶם וְאֶת-בְּנֹתֵיהֶם יִשְׂרְפוּ בָאֵשׁ לֵאלֹהֵיהֶם

. . . .

You shall not do so to God your Lord, for many of the things that God abhors and loathes — those they did for their objects of worship; even their sons and their daughters they would burn in fire for them.