John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 5. But unto the place which the Lord your God , etc.] The Targum of Jonathan is, that the Word of the Lord your God: shall choose out of all your tribes to put his name there ; to place his tabernacle, set up his worship, take up his residence, and cause the Shechinah, or his divine Majesty, to dwell there, as the next clause explains it; out of what tribe it should be chosen, and where it should be, is not said.
Maimomides gives three reasons for it; he says there are three great mysteries why the place is not clearly, but obscurely mentioned; 1) lest the Gentiles should seize upon it, and make war for the sake of it, supposing this place to be the end of the law; 2) lest they in whose hands the place then was should by all means waste and destroy it; 3) which is the chief, lest every tribe should desire to have it in its own lot and jurisdiction; and so strifes might arise among them on account of it, as happened to the priesthood: [even] unto his habitation shall ye seek ; the temple at Jerusalem is meant, where the Lord took up his dwelling, and whither men were to come and seek unto him by prayer and supplication for whatsoever they needed, and to inquire of him in matters doubtful, and they wanted counsel in: and thither thou shall come : with sacrifices of every sort, where they were to be slain and offered to the Lord, and become acceptable to him, as is more largely declared in the following part of this chapter.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 5-32 - The command to bring ALL the sacrifices to the door of the tabernacle was now explained with reference to the promised land. As to mora service, then, as now, men might pray and worship every where, as the did in their synagogues. The place which God would choose, is said to be the place where he would put his name. It was to be his habitation where, as King of Israel, he would be found by all who reverentl sought him. Now, under the gospel, we have no temple or altar tha sanctifies the gift but Christ only: and as to the places of worship the prophets foretold that in every place the spiritual incense shoul be offered, Mal 1:11. Our Saviour declared, that those are accepted a true worshippers, who worship God in sincerity and truth, withou regard either to this mountain or Jerusalem, Joh 4:21. And a devou Israelite might honour God, keep up communion with him, and obtai mercy from him, though he had no opportunity of bringing a sacrifice to his altar. Work for God should be done with holy joy and cheerfulness Even children and servants must rejoice before God; the services of religion are to be a pleasure, and not a task or drudgery. It is the duty of people to be kind to their ministers, who teach them well, an set them good examples. As long as we live, we need their assistance till we come to that world where ordinances will not be needed. Whethe we eat or drink, or whatever we do, we are commanded to do all to the glory of God. And we must do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ giving thanks to the Father through him. They must not even inquir into the modes and forms of idolatrous worship. What good would it d them to know those depths of Satan? And our inward satisfaction will be more and more, as we abound in love and good works, which spring from faith and the in-dwelling Spirit of Christ _________________________________________________
Original Hebrew כי3588 אם518 אל413 המקום4725 אשׁר834 יבחר977 יהוה3068 אלהיכם430 מכל3605 שׁבטיכם7626 לשׂום7760 את853 שׁמו8034 שׁם8033 לשׁכנו7933 תדרשׁו1875 ובאת935 שׁמה׃8033
