Moses is teaching the people about to enter the Land of Israel their duties once they arrive.
In Deuteronomy 12:10 Moses presents a broad outline of what they must do.
10. And you will cross the Jordan and you will dwell in the land that the Lord your God causes you to inherit, and He will give you rest from all your enemies round about, and you will dwell securely.
Understanding Deuteronomy 12:10
According to Rabbi Sorotzkin, Deuteronomy 12:10 outlines 3 stages in establishing the Temple.
1. And you will cross the Jordan: this is the 7 years of conquering the Land and the 7 years of dividing the Land. During these 14 years the Tabernacle was in Gilgal.
(This number of years for conquering and dividing is a tradition found in the Gemara Arachin 13a and Zevachim 118b.)
2. you will dwell in the land: this is establishing the Tabernacle as a permanent structure in Shiloh (Joshua 18:1).
3. and He will give you rest from all your enemies round about, and you will dwell securely: At this time it becomes an obligation to build the Temple in the place that God will choose.
Deuteronomy 12:10 – Commandments in the Land
This verse teaches us part of what the Jewish people were required to do after God brought them into the Land of Israel.
It has been taught: Rabbi Yossi said: Three commandments were given to Israel when they entered the land:
[i] to appoint a king;
[ii] to cut off the seed of Amalek;
[iii] and to build themselves the chosen house [i.e. the Temple] …
Rabbi Yossi proves from several verses that these three commandments were to be fulfilled in the order listed in the beraita.
In truth, many commandments only came into effect after the Jewish people entered the Land of Israel. So why did Rabbi Yossi single out these 3?
Rashi (commentary on the Gemara) explains that the words “inherit” and “settle” are used with all three. This indicates that they have conditions attached to them more than just coming into the Land. That is to say, they did not come into effect immediately after crossing the Jordan.
Brief History: Jews in the Land of Israel
Step 1: A King
From the time of Joshua until Samuel, the Jewish people had various leaders but no one was anointed king.
When Samuel grew old, the elders of the people asked him to appoint a king (1 Samuel 8:5). God directed Samuel to anoint Saul as the first king over the nation (1 Samuel 9 and 10).
Step 2: Destroy Amalek
After the Jewish people left Egypt, Amalek was the first nation to attack them. Joshua lead an army into battle against Amalek, but was not able to destroy them.
God declared that there would be war against Amalek until it was destroyed (Exodus 17:8-16).
Over 400 years later Samuel instructed Saul that it was time to destroy Amalek (1 Samuel 15:1-3). In the battle that followed, Saul and his army killed all of Amalek except for the king Agag.
Step 3: Build the Temple
After Saul’s death David reigned as king.
Once his reign was consolidated he thought the time had come to build the Temple.
1. And it came to pass, when the king dwelled in his house, and the Lord had given him rest from his enemies round about
2. That the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells within curtains.”
God “had given him rest from his enemies round about.” David was sure this was a fulfillment of our verse: “He will give you rest from all your enemies round about.” Therefore, it was time to build the Temple.
At first Nathan thought David was correct. But God informed Nathan that David’s son would build the Temple.
The Chosen Place
Even though it was almost time to build the Temple, they still did not know where to build it.
Moses told the people in Deuteronomy 12:5 that God will choose a place to establish the Temple.
5. But to the place which the Lord your God will choose from among all your tribes to put His name there, you shall seek for His habitation, and you shall come there.
Abarbanel writes that this place would be chosen by God and He would make it known via a prophet. It’s not to be chosen based on the desires of the rulers or the people.
He adds that the phrase “you shall seek” means that you are to seek out the prophet who will reveal the place to you.
Radak writes on 1 Samuel 7:1 that David wanted the prophet Nathan to ask God about building the Temple and the location of the chosen place.
The Place Revealed
David ordered Joab to take a census of the Jewish people (2 Samuel 24 and 1 Chronicles 21). This sin resulted in a plague. (I’ve written in another article why this was a sin.)
Even though they are not all included here, it’s worth your time to read 2 Samuel 24:15-25 and 1 Chronicles 21:14-22:1.
According Seder Olam these events were in the year before David died.
God used this event to reveal to Gad the prophet the place chosen to build the Temple.
18. And Gad came that day to David, and said to him, “Go up, erect an altar to the Lord in the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.”
19. And David, according to the saying of Gad, went up as the Lord commanded.
David purchased the threshing floor (in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah) from Araunah and designated it as the site for the Temple.
1. Then David said, This is the house of the Lord God, and this is the altar of the burnt offering for Israel.
Summary and Conclusion
Deuteronomy 12:10 and 12:5, as explained, provide many basic facts about establishing the Temple.
- What? – build the Temple
- Who? – the king
- When? – after you have “rest from all your enemies round about”
- Where? – in the place chosen by God via a prophet
- Why? – read on …
- How? – read on …
Why?
Abarbanel comments on Deuteronomy 12:5 that the Temple needs to reflect the absolute Oneness of God. Therefore, in the Land of Israel, God would choose one place not multiple places among the various tribes.
How?
David wanted to build the Temple, but God refused his request. That did not keep David from making preparations for the Temple.
11. Then David gave to Solomon his son the plans for the Hall, and of its chambers, …
19. All this is put in writing by the hand of the Lord who instructed me, all the works of this plan.
Verses 11-18 detail the items and structures that David had made plans for. He also collected materials to use in the actual construction.
Solomon used these plans to oversee the construction of the Temple.
From the time the Jewish people crossed the Jordan until Solomon started building the Temple was over 400 years. We see that God can be “patient” and that events may not happen as quickly as we might want them to.