Deuteronomy 12:5 - Where does God dwell?

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Hebrew Text

כִּי אִם־אֶל־הַמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר־יִבְחַר יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם מִכָּל־שִׁבְטֵיכֶם לָשׂוּם אֶת־שְׁמוֹ שָׁם לְשִׁכְנוֹ תִדְרְשׁוּ וּבָאתָ שָׁמָּה׃

English Translation

But to the place which the Lord your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put his name there, there shall you seek him, at his dwelling, and there shalt thou come:

Transliteration

Ki im-el-hamakom asher-yivchar Adonai Eloheikhem mikol-shivteikhem lasum et-shmo sham lishkno tidreshu uvata shamah.

Hebrew Leining Text

כִּ֠י אִֽם־אֶל־הַמָּק֞וֹם אֲשֶׁר־יִבְחַ֨ר יְהֹוָ֤ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶם֙ מִכׇּל־שִׁבְטֵיכֶ֔ם לָשׂ֥וּם אֶת־שְׁמ֖וֹ שָׁ֑ם לְשִׁכְנ֥וֹ תִדְרְשׁ֖וּ וּבָ֥אתָ שָּֽׁמָּה׃

Parasha Commentary

The Chosen Place for Divine Service

The verse (Devarim 12:5) emphasizes the centrality of the Makom HaMivchar (the Chosen Place) where Hashem designates His presence. Rashi explains that this refers to the Beit HaMikdash (Temple) in Jerusalem, as it is the singular location where all sacrifices and divine service must be performed. The Rambam (Hilchot Beit HaBechirah 1:1-3) elaborates that this commandment establishes Jerusalem as the eternal spiritual center for the Jewish people.

Seeking Hashem's Presence

The phrase "תִדְרְשׁוּ וּבָאתָ שָׁמָּה" ("there shall you seek Him, and there you shall come") teaches an active obligation to pursue connection with the Divine. The Sifrei (Devarim 62) interprets this as a mitzvah to appear before Hashem during the three pilgrimage festivals (Pesach, Shavuot, and Sukkot). The Talmud (Chagigah 2a) further discusses the requirement to "seek" through Torah study and prayer, even when physical presence at the Temple is impossible.

The Uniqueness of the Shechinah's Dwelling

The term "לְשִׁכְנוֹ" ("His dwelling") refers to the Shechinah (Divine Presence). The Midrash (Tanchuma Re'eh 8) states that this selection process began with the Mishkan in Shiloh and culminated in Jerusalem. The Kli Yakar notes that the phrase "מִכָּל־שִׁבְטֵיכֶם" ("from all your tribes") teaches that Jerusalem was chosen precisely because it belonged to no single tribe (it was a shared inheritance), symbolizing unity in divine service.

Practical Halachic Implications

The Rambam (Hilchot Melachim 1:1-3) rules that building the Beit HaMikdash takes precedence over appointing a king, showing its centrality.
The Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 95) counts the prohibition against offering sacrifices outside the Temple as one of the 613 mitzvot derived from this verse.
Even today, when facing Jerusalem during prayer (Berachot 30a), we fulfill the concept of "seeking" His dwelling place.

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is quoted in the Talmud.

📖 Zevachim 119a

The verse is discussed in the context of the centralization of worship in Jerusalem, particularly regarding the selection of the Temple site.

📖 Sotah 32b

The verse is referenced in a discussion about the obligation to seek God's presence in the chosen place, emphasizing the centrality of the Temple in Jewish worship.

📖 Megillah 10a

The verse is cited in a discussion about the sanctity of Jerusalem and the Temple, highlighting its unique status as the dwelling place of God's name.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What does Deuteronomy 12:5 mean?
A: Deuteronomy 12:5 teaches that we must bring our offerings and worship only in the place that Hashem chooses—later revealed as the Temple in Jerusalem (Rashi, Rambam Hilchot Beit HaBechirah 1:1). This centralizes Jewish worship to one holy location.

Q: Why is the 'place Hashem chooses' important?
A: The Torah emphasizes unity in serving Hashem. By designating one central place (the Temple), it prevents fragmented worship and strengthens the bond between the Jewish people and G-d (Devarim Rabbah 2:6). This also ensures proper adherence to Torah laws of sacrifices.

Q: How does this verse apply today without the Temple?
A: While we cannot bring sacrifices today, we still face Jerusalem in prayer (Berachot 30a) and mourn the Temple's destruction. Orthodox Jews await the Third Temple's rebuilding, when this mitzvah will be observed fully again (Rambam Melachim 11:1).

Q: What does 'seek His dwelling' mean practically?
A: It commands us to pilgrimage to the Temple on festivals (Chagigah 2a) and directs our spiritual focus toward Jerusalem. Even today, we 'seek' it through prayers for restoration and by treating synagogues as 'mini-sanctuaries' (Megillah 29a).

Q: Why does G-d choose a specific location?
A: The Midrash (Sifrei Devarim 62) explains that a fixed holy place prevents confusion in divine service. Just as Hashem unified creation from one point (the Foundation Stone in Jerusalem), our worship emanates from one center to unify the Jewish people.