Leviticus 26:31 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

Bible Comments

Your sanctuaries; either,

1. God's sanctuary, called sanctuaries here, as also Psalms 73:17, Psalms 74:7 Jeremiah 51:51 Ezekiel 28:18, because there were divers apartments in it, each of which was a sanctuary, or, which is all one, a holy place, as they are severally called. And your emphatically, not mine, for I disown and abhor it, and all the services you do in it, because you have defiled it. Or,

2. The temples built by you to idols, therefore called their sanctuaries, in opposition to God s. Or,

3. Your synagogues. But the first is most probable, because he speaks of the place where they used to offer their sweet odours here following. I will not smell, i.e. not own or accept them. See Genesis 8:21 Isaiah 1:11, &c. Of your sweet odours; either of the incense, or of your sacrifices, which when offered with faith and obedience, are very sweet and acceptable to me.

Leviticus 26:31

31 And I will make your cities waste, and bring your sanctuaries unto desolation, and I will not smell the savour of your sweet odours.