Ver. 30. Enquire not after their gods, &c.— The pretentious of the heathen deities, as Bishop Warburton observes, being mutually acknowledged by their distinct and proper followers; and some, by the fortunate circumstances of these followers, being risen into superior same, the rites used in their worship were eagerly sought for and imitated. It was likewise a general principle, that the local god was to have a necessary share in the worship of all who settled in the country; and those who were loth to leave their paternal gods when they sought new settlements, at least held themselves obliged to worship them with the rites, and according to the usages of the country which they came to inhabit. Against this more qualified principle of paganism, Moses thinks fit to caution the Israelites in this and the subsequent verses. Div. Leg. vol. 4: p. 40.
Related Commentaries of Deuteronomy 12:30
Deuteronomy 12:30
30 Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise.