Text: Deuteronomy 12:2-28
OT Text Referred to: Exodus 20:24
Subject: altar law and centralized worship
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Reference Type: Allusion
Connection Method(s): Longitudinal Theme
Significance: Exodus 20:24 permits building an altar "in every place where I cause My name to be remembered" (בְּכָל הַמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר אַזְכִּיר אֶת שְׁמִי, bekhol hamaqom asher azkir et shemi), allowing multiple legitimate worship sites. Deuteronomy 12:2-28 restricts this to one centralized location: "the place the LORD your God will choose" (הַמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר יִבְחַר, hamaqom asher yivchar). The transition from Exodus's multiple-altar permission to Deuteronomy's centralization mandate reflects a development in worship theology suited to Israel's settlement in Canaan—where scattered altars could become venues for syncretistic worship, a single chosen place would preserve the purity of Yahwistic worship and prevent contamination by Canaanite practices at local high places.