Deuteronomy 4 summary meaning ai explained commentary

Deuteronomy 4 meaning explained in AI Summary

The Importance of the Covenant

The Covenant Foundation: Moses emphasizes the importance of adhering to the covenant God established with them at Mount Sinai. This covenant outlined their obligations to God and the blessings they would receive in return for obedience.
Blessings for Obedience: He outlines the specific blessings associated with obedience, including long life, plentiful harvests, victory over enemies, and a secure and prosperous nation.
Curses for Disobedience: Conversely, Moses warns of the severe curses that will befall them if they turn away from God and break the covenant. These curses include famine, disease, military defeat, and exile.

This chapter serves as a powerful exhortation to Israel, urging them to remember and obey the laws God has given them as they prepare to enter the Promised Land.

Key Points:

Remember and Obey: Moses passionately pleads with the Israelites to remember and obey the laws and decrees God has revealed to them (verses 1-2, 5-8, 44). He emphasizes that these laws are not arbitrary but are given for their own good, to ensure their well-being and prosperity in the land (verses 6, 40).
The Danger of Idolatry: Moses warns against the temptation of idolatry, a significant sin that led to the downfall of other nations (verses 15-19, 23-28). He reminds them of their unique encounter with God at Mount Horeb, where they heard His voice but saw no image (verses 12, 15-16). This experience should solidify their commitment to worshipping the one true God.
The Importance of Teaching Future Generations: Moses stresses the importance of passing down these laws and warnings to their children and grandchildren (verses 9-10, 25-26). He emphasizes the need for constant remembrance and teaching to ensure that future generations remain faithful to God.
God's Mercy and Forgiveness: Despite the severity of disobedience, Moses reminds the Israelites that God is merciful and forgiving (verses 29-31). Even if they stray, they can find their way back to Him through sincere repentance and seeking Him with all their heart and soul.
Cities of Refuge: Moses sets apart three cities east of the Jordan River as cities of refuge for those who accidentally kill someone (verses 41-43). This provision demonstrates God's justice and compassion, offering protection and a fair trial for unintentional acts.

Overall Message:

Deuteronomy 4 is a powerful call to covenant faithfulness. It reminds Israel of their unique relationship with God, the importance of His laws, and the blessings of obedience. It also serves as a stark warning against the dangers of idolatry and disobedience. The chapter concludes with practical instructions regarding the cities of refuge, highlighting God's justice and mercy.

Deuteronomy 4 bible study ai commentary

Deuteronomy 4 is a foundational theological sermon by Moses. It serves as a bridge between the historical recounting of Israel's journey (Ch. 1-3) and the restatement of the Law (Ch. 5 onwards). Moses passionately exhorts the new generation, on the cusp of entering the Promised Land, to learn from the past, adhere strictly to God's word, and shun the idolatry of the surrounding nations. The core message is that Israel's life, wisdom, and unique relationship with God depend entirely on faithful obedience to the covenant established at Horeb (Sinai).

Deuteronomy 4 Context

The setting is the plains of Moab, east of the Jordan River. The 40 years of wilderness wandering have concluded, and the generation that rebelled at Kadesh-Barnea has perished. Moses is addressing their children, a new generation poised to conquer Canaan. His speech is a final charge, preparing them for the immense spiritual and cultural challenges they will face from the Canaanite religions, which were saturated with idol worship, fertility cults, and nature deities. The speech's structure mirrors ancient Near Eastern suzerain-vassal treaties, with a historical prologue, stipulations, and blessings/curses, emphasizing that Israel's relationship with Yahweh is a formal, binding covenant.

Deuteronomy 4:1-4

Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers giveth you. Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you. Your eyes have seen what the LORD did because of Baalpeor: for all the men that followed Baalpeor, the LORD thy God hath destroyed them from among you. But ye that did cleave unto the LORD your God are alive every one of you this day.

In-depth-analysis

v. 1 Hearken (Shema): This is the key verb of Deuteronomy. It means more than just auditory listening; it implies hearing, understanding, and responding with obedience.
That you may live: Obedience to Torah is not a burden but the path to true life and blessing. This theme runs through the entire book.
v. 2 Not Add or Subtract: This establishes the authority and sufficiency of God's revealed word. It guards against human traditions superseding divine law and against neglecting difficult commands.
v. 3-4 Baal Peor: Moses uses a recent, traumatic event (Num 25) as a powerful case study. The sin involved both idolatry (worship of Baal of Peor) and sexual immorality with Moabite women.
Did cleave (dabaq): This word implies a deep, loyal attachment, like glue. Those who remained loyal to Yahweh were preserved, demonstrating the direct life-or-death consequence of their allegiance.

Bible references

Num 25:1-9: ‘And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab... and bowed down to their gods.’ (The historical event of Baal Peor).
Prov 30:5-6: ‘Every word of God is pure... Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee...’ (Echoes the prohibition against adding to God's word).
Rev 22:18-19: ‘If any man shall add unto these things... And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy...’ (Forms a bookend to the entire canon of Scripture).
Gal 3:12: 'The Law is not of faith, but "The man who does them shall live by them."' (Paul quotes the principle that the law offers life through doing, though he contrasts it with life through faith).

Cross references

Lev 18:5 (live by my rules); Deut 12:32 (do not add or take away); Josh 1:7 (turn not from it); Ps 119:93 (your precepts have given me life); Hos 9:10 (sin of Baal Peor); 1 Cor 10:8 (Baal Peor as a warning).

Deuteronomy 4:5-8

Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments... that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it. Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for? And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?

In-depth-analysis

This is your wisdom: Israel’s national distinction and genius were not to be found in philosophy, military might, or art, but in their God-given Law (Torah). This contrasted with the "wisdom" of Egypt or Babylon.
God so nigh (qarob): The core of Israel's uniqueness is God’s immanence and accessibility. He is not a distant, abstract deity but a personal God who hears and responds.
So righteous (tsaddiqim): The moral and ethical superiority of God’s law is a key point of praise. It promotes justice and righteousness, unlike the often capricious and self-serving laws of other ANE cultures.

Bible references

Ps 147:19-20: 'He sheweth his word unto Jacob... He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them.' (Celebrates Israel's exclusive possession of God's Law).
Rom 3:1-2: 'What advantage then hath the Jew?... chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.' (Paul affirms the great privilege Israel had in receiving God's revelation).
Ps 19:7-9: 'The law of the LORD is perfect... the statutes of the LORD are right... the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.' (Praises the quality of God's Law).
James 3:17: 'But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle...' (Contrasts worldly wisdom with God's wisdom).

Cross references

2 Sam 7:23 (God's unique people); Ps 48:1-2 (God's greatness); Isa 55:6 (seek the LORD while He is near).

Polemics

This passage is a polemic against the claims of surrounding cultures. While Egypt and Mesopotamia boasted of their scribal wisdom and complex legal codes (like the Code of Hammurabi), Moses declares that Israel's law is superior because its source is the righteous, near-at-hand God, not just a wise king.

Deuteronomy 4:9-14

Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons; Specially the day that thou stoodest before the LORD thy God in Horeb... The LORD spake unto you out of the midst of the fire: ye heard the voice of the words, but saw no similitude; only ye heard a voice... And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone.

In-depth-analysis

Lest thou forget: Forgetting is presented as the root of apostasy. The remedy is diligent remembrance and multigenerational teaching (teach them thy sons).
Horeb: This is another name for Mount Sinai. This was the foundational event where the covenant was established.
Heard the voice... but saw no similitude (temunah): This is the theological core of the chapter and the basis for the prohibition of idolatry. God revealed Himself audibly, through His Word, not visually. His nature cannot be captured in a physical form. Revelation is primarily verbal.
Ten Commandments: These are highlighted as the heart of the covenant (aseret ha-devarim, "the ten words"). They are the summary of God's will for His people.

Bible references

Deut 6:6-7: 'And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children...' (The mandate for religious education).
Exod 19:18-19: 'And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke... and Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice.' (The historical account of the audible, but not visible, revelation).
John 1:18: 'No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.' (The NT affirmation that God is unseen, and Christ is His ultimate declaration/Word).
Heb 12:18-19: 'For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire... and the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words...' (Recalls the terror and awe of the Sinai experience).

Cross references

Deut 11:19 (teaching children); Ps 78:4-7 (telling the next generation); Eph 6:4 (bring children up in the Lord).

Deuteronomy 4:15-24

Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves; for ye saw no manner of similitude... Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image... The likeness of male or female, The likeness of any beast... fowl... creeping thing... fish... And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars... and shouldest be driven to worship them... For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.

In-depth-analysis

Comprehensive Prohibition: Moses systematically forbids the worship of images representing anything in creation: humans (like Baal or Asherah), land animals (like the Egyptian Apis bull), birds (like the Egyptian Horus), reptiles, fish, and celestial bodies (common in Mesopotamian worship). The prohibition covers the entire cosmos.
Lest thou... be driven to worship them: This acknowledges the seductive power of idolatry and the visual appeal of pagan worship.
Sun, Moon, and Stars... which the LORD thy God hath allotted unto all nations: A complex phrase. It means God, as sovereign creator, assigned these celestial bodies their place in the cosmos. Other nations may mistakenly worship them, but Israel knows the Creator, not the creation.
Consuming Fire, Jealous God: These metaphors describe God's holiness and His intolerance of rivals. Jealous (qanna) here is not petty human jealousy, but the zealous protection of a covenant relationship, like a husband's righteous jealousy for his wife's exclusive loyalty. Fire purifies and destroys; God’s holiness does the same to sin and idolatry.

Bible references

Exod 20:4-5: 'Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing... for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God...' (The second commandment, which is being expounded here).
Rom 1:22-23: 'Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man...' (Paul's classic diagnosis of the origin of idolatry).
Heb 12:29: 'For our God is a consuming fire.' (The author directly quotes this description of God).
Isa 40:18: 'To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?' (The prophet mocks the absurdity of trying to create an image of the infinite God).

Cross references

Deut 5:8 (second commandment); Isa 44:9-20 (satire on idol making); Acts 17:29 (we ought not think the Godhead is like gold); 2 Cor 6:16 (what agreement hath the temple of God with idols?).

Polemics

This entire section is a direct, systematic refutation of every major form of paganism in the Ancient Near East. It de-divinizes the entire created order—the sky, the earth, the sea, and all creatures within them—that other nations worshipped. It asserts that all are mere creations, not to be worshipped but ruled by the one, invisible Creator God.

Deuteronomy 4:25-31

When thou shalt beget children... and ye shall have remained long in the land, and shall corrupt yourselves, and make a graven image... I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that ye shall soon utterly perish from off the land... And the LORD shall scatter you among the nations... But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. When thou art in tribulation... even in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God... (For the LORD thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers...

In-depth-analysis

Prophecy of Exile: This is a remarkably clear and tragic prophecy. Moses foresees that future generations, despite all his warnings, will fall into idolatry and suffer the covenant curse of exile.
Scattered: The curse of being scattered from the land is the ultimate reversal of the promise.
Seek... with all thy heart and with all thy soul: This defines true repentance (teshuvah). It is not a mere ritual but a complete reorientation of one’s entire being toward God.
In the latter days: This gives the prophecy an eschatological dimension, pointing toward a future, decisive time of repentance and restoration.
A Merciful (rachum) God: Despite the prophecy of judgment, the final word is hope. God’s character—His mercy and covenant faithfulness—is the ultimate basis for Israel's hope of restoration. His promises to the patriarchs will not be nullified.

Bible references

1 Kgs 8:46-50: 'If they sin against thee... and thou... deliver them to the enemy, so that they carry them away captives... yet if they shall bethink themselves... and repent...' (Solomon's prayer at the temple dedication, which directly follows the pattern of sin, exile, and repentance laid out here).
Jer 29:12-14: 'Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.' (Jeremiah's promise to the exiles in Babylon, echoing Moses's words).
Neh 1:8-9: 'Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses, saying, If ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad... But if ye turn unto me... I will gather them...' (Nehemiah bases his prayer for restoration directly on this Deuteronomic promise).
Lev 26:33, 40-42: 'And I will scatter you among the heathen... If they shall confess their iniquity... then will I remember my covenant with Jacob...' (The earlier legal statement of the curse of exile and the promise of restoration).

Cross references

Isa 55:7 (let the wicked forsake his way); Joel 2:12-13 (turn with all your heart); Lam 3:22-23 (His compassions fail not).

Deuteronomy 4:32-40

For ask now of the days that are past... and ask from the one side of heaven unto the other, whether there hath been any such thing as this great thing is... Did ever people hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as thou hast heard, and live? Or hath God assayed to go and take him a nation from the midst of another nation, by temptations, by signs, and by wonders, and by war... according to all that the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes? Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him.

In-depth-analysis

Rhetorical Questions: Moses challenges Israel to scour all of human history and geography to find any parallel to their own experience. The implied answer is a resounding "No."
Two Unique Acts: He highlights two unparalleled divine actions:
1. Direct Revelation: A whole nation hearing God’s voice directly from the fire and surviving.
2. Sovereign Redemption (The Exodus): God personally intervening in history to carve out a nation for Himself from within a powerful empire.
That thou mightest know: The purpose of these spectacular acts was theological revelation—to show Israel that Yahweh alone is God.
None else beside him: This is the quintessential statement of radical monotheism. It is the logical conclusion of God's unique actions.
v. 40 Keep His Statutes: The conclusion returns to the opening theme. The proper response to this unique God is obedience, which leads to life and longevity in the land.

Bible references

Isa 45:5-6: 'I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me... that they may know from the rising of the sun... that there is none beside me.' (Isaiah's strong affirmation of monotheism, using the same language).
Deut 7:19: 'The great temptations which thine eyes saw, and the signs, and the wonders, and the mighty hand...' (A summary of the Exodus events).
Mark 12:29: 'Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord.' (Jesus affirms the Shema, which is built on this very conclusion from Deuteronomy 4).
Exod 7-12: The account of the plagues and redemption from Egypt which are the basis of Moses’s argument.

Cross references

Deut 32:39 (I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me); 1 Sam 2:2 (none holy as the LORD); 1 Kgs 8:60 (the LORD is God, and none else); John 17:3 (this is eternal life, to know thee the only true God).

Deuteronomy 4:41-43

Then Moses severed three cities on this side Jordan toward the sunrising; That the slayer might flee thither, which should kill his neighbour unawares, and hated him not in times past... namely, Bezer in the wilderness... and Ramoth in Gilead... and Golan in Bashan...

In-depth-analysis

This section is a prose insertion into the sermon. It records Moses' immediate, practical obedience to God's law.
It demonstrates that law is not just for future application, but for immediate action. Moses practices what he preaches.
These three cities of refuge were for the Transjordan tribes (Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh) and provided protection from blood avengers for those guilty of accidental manslaughter.

Bible references

Num 35:10-15: 'Then ye shall appoint you cities to be cities of refuge for you; that the slayer may flee thither, which killeth any person at unawares.' (The original command for these cities).
Josh 20:7-8: 'And they appointed... And on the other side Jordan... they assigned Bezer... and Ramoth... and Golan...' (Joshua completes the command by setting apart the cities on the west side of the Jordan and confirming these three on the east).
Heb 6:18: 'That... we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us.' (The imagery of a city of refuge is used metaphorically for the security found in Christ).

Cross references

Exod 21:13 (place to flee); Deut 19:1-10 (further laws on cities of refuge).

Deuteronomy 4:44-49

And this is the law which Moses set before the children of Israel: These are the testimonies, and the statutes, and the judgments... After he had slain Sihon the king of the Amorites... and Og the king of Bashan... on this side Jordan, eastward.

In-depth-analysis

This section acts as a superscription or formal title for the major block of legal material that follows (Deuteronomy 5-26).
It serves as a new introduction, grounding the giving of the law at this specific time and place.
It recaps the setting: "on this side Jordan, eastward," and the recent victories over Sihon and Og, which served as tangible proof of God's power and a down payment on the full conquest.

Bible references

Deut 1:4: 'After he had slain Sihon... and Og...' (A similar historical marker used at the beginning of the book).
This section functions similarly to title headings in other ancient legal texts, providing context for what is to follow.

Cross references

Num 21:21-35 (account of the defeat of Sihon and Og).

Deuteronomy chapter 4 analysis

Covenant Structure: The chapter follows the pattern of an ancient Near Eastern treaty: it begins with a historical prologue (God's past actions), presents stipulations (obey, don't make idols), and outlines curses (exile) and blessings (life, restoration). This frames obedience not as arbitrary rule-following but as loyal response within a formal relationship.
Word over Image: A dominant theme is the supremacy of God’s spoken word over any physical image. Israel's relationship with God is founded on hearing and remembering, not on seeing and depicting. This establishes a primarily intellectual and relational faith, distinct from the sensual and manipulative pagan cults.
Memory as a Moral Act: Forgetting God's acts (Exodus) and words (Horeb) is treated as a sin, the direct precursor to apostasy. Conversely, active remembrance and teaching are the primary duties for sustaining covenant faithfulness through generations.
The Exclusivity of Yahweh: The chapter is one of the Old Testament's most powerful arguments for monotheism. Moses doesn't just state it; he proves it by appealing to unparalleled historical events (Exodus, Sinai). This exclusive claim demands exclusive worship, hence the zeal against idolatry.

Deuteronomy 4 summary

Moses delivers a powerful, heartfelt sermon urging the new generation of Israelites to remain faithful to God by diligently obeying His law without alteration. He uses the recent apostasy at Baal Peor as a dire warning and the unique, imageless revelation at Horeb as the theological foundation for shunning all forms of idolatry. Moses prophesies that future disobedience will lead to exile, but true repentance will lead to restoration because of God's merciful and faithful character. The chapter culminates by asserting that God's unique actions in history prove He alone is God, demanding exclusive loyalty and obedience, which is the path to life in the Promised Land.

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Deuteronomy 4 AI Image Audio and Video

Deuteronomy chapter 4 kjv

¹ Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers giveth you.
² Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.
³ Your eyes have seen what the LORD did because of Baalpeor: for all the men that followed Baalpeor, the LORD thy God hath destroyed them from among you.
⁴ But ye that did cleave unto the LORD your God are alive every one of you this day.
⁵ Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the LORD my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it.
⁶ Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.
⁷ For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for?
⁸ And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?
⁹ Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons;
¹⁰ Specially the day that thou stoodest before the LORD thy God in Horeb, when the LORD said unto me, Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children.
¹¹ And ye came near and stood under the mountain; and the mountain burned with fire unto the midst of heaven, with darkness, clouds, and thick darkness.
¹² And the LORD spake unto you out of the midst of the fire: ye heard the voice of the words, but saw no similitude; only ye heard a voice.
¹³ And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone.
¹⁴ And the LORD commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and judgments, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go over to possess it.
¹⁵ Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves; for ye saw no manner of similitude on the day that the LORD spake unto you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire:
¹⁶ Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female,
¹⁷ The likeness of any beast that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged fowl that flieth in the air,
¹⁸ The likeness of any thing that creepeth on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the waters beneath the earth:
¹⁹ And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the LORD thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven.
²⁰ But the LORD hath taken you, and brought you forth out of the iron furnace, even out of Egypt, to be unto him a people of inheritance, as ye are this day.
²¹ Furthermore the LORD was angry with me for your sakes, and sware that I should not go over Jordan, and that I should not go in unto that good land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance:
²² But I must die in this land, I must not go over Jordan: but ye shall go over, and possess that good land.
²³ Take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of the LORD your God, which he made with you, and make you a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, which the LORD thy God hath forbidden thee.
²⁴ For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.
²⁵ When thou shalt beget children, and children's children, and ye shall have remained long in the land, and shall corrupt yourselves, and make a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, and shall do evil in the sight of the LORD thy God, to provoke him to anger:
²⁶ I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that ye shall soon utterly perish from off the land whereunto ye go over Jordan to possess it; ye shall not prolong your days upon it, but shall utterly be destroyed.
²⁷ And the LORD shall scatter you among the nations, and ye shall be left few in number among the heathen, whither the LORD shall lead you.
²⁸ And there ye shall serve gods, the work of men's hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell.
²⁹ But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.
³⁰ When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice;
³¹ (For the LORD thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them.
³² For ask now of the days that are past, which were before thee, since the day that God created man upon the earth, and ask from the one side of heaven unto the other, whether there hath been any such thing as this great thing is, or hath been heard like it?
³³ Did ever people hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as thou hast heard, and live?
³⁴ Or hath God assayed to go and take him a nation from the midst of another nation, by temptations, by signs, and by wonders, and by war, and by a mighty hand, and by a stretched out arm, and by great terrors, according to all that the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes?
³⁵ Unto thee it was showed, that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him.
³⁶ Out of heaven he made thee to hear his voice, that he might instruct thee: and upon earth he showed thee his great fire; and thou heardest his words out of the midst of the fire.
³⁷ And because he loved thy fathers, therefore he chose their seed after them, and brought thee out in his sight with his mighty power out of Egypt;
³⁸ To drive out nations from before thee greater and mightier than thou art, to bring thee in, to give thee their land for an inheritance, as it is this day.
³⁹ Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the LORD he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else.
⁴⁰ Thou shalt keep therefore his statutes, and his commandments, which I command thee this day, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days upon the earth, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, for ever.
⁴¹ Then Moses severed three cities on this side Jordan toward the sunrising;
⁴² That the slayer might flee thither, which should kill his neighbor unawares, and hated him not in times past; and that fleeing unto one of these cities he might live:
⁴³ Namely, Bezer in the wilderness, in the plain country, of the Reubenites; and Ramoth in Gilead, of the Gadites; and Golan in Bashan, of the Manassites.
⁴⁴ And this is the law which Moses set before the children of Israel:
⁴⁵ These are the testimonies, and the statutes, and the judgments, which Moses spake unto the children of Israel, after they came forth out of Egypt.
⁴⁶ On this side Jordan, in the valley over against Bethpeor, in the land of Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt at Heshbon, whom Moses and the children of Israel smote, after they were come forth out of Egypt:
⁴⁷ And they possessed his land, and the land of Og king of Bashan, two kings of the Amorites, which were on this side Jordan toward the sunrising;
⁴⁸ From Aroer, which is by the bank of the river Arnon, even unto mount Sion, which is Hermon,
⁴⁹ And all the plain on this side Jordan eastward, even unto the sea of the plain, under the springs of Pisgah.

Deuteronomy chapter 4 nkjv

¹ "Now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the judgments which I teach you to observe, that you may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers is giving you.
² You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.
³ Your eyes have seen what the LORD did at Baal Peor; for the LORD your God has destroyed from among you all the men who followed Baal of Peor.
⁴ But you who held fast to the LORD your God are alive today, every one of you.
⁵ "Surely I have taught you statutes and judgments, just as the LORD my God commanded me, that you should act according to them in the land which you go to possess.
⁶ Therefore be careful to observe them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes, and say, 'Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.'
⁷ "For what great nation is there that has God so near to it, as the LORD our God is to us, for whatever reason we may call upon Him?
⁸ And what great nation is there that has such statutes and righteous judgments as are in all this law which I set before you this day?
⁹ Only take heed to yourself, and diligently keep yourself, lest you forget the things your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. And teach them to your children and your grandchildren,
¹⁰ especially concerning the day you stood before the LORD your God in Horeb, when the LORD said to me, 'Gather the people to Me, and I will let them hear My words, that they may learn to fear Me all the days they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children.'
¹¹ "Then you came near and stood at the foot of the mountain, and the mountain burned with fire to the midst of heaven, with darkness, cloud, and thick darkness.
¹² And the LORD spoke to you out of the midst of the fire. You heard the sound of the words, but saw no form; you only heard a voice.
¹³ So He declared to you His covenant which He commanded you to perform, the Ten Commandments; and He wrote them on two tablets of stone.
¹⁴ And the LORD commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and judgments, that you might observe them in the land which you cross over to possess.
¹⁵ "Take careful heed to yourselves, for you saw no form when the LORD spoke to you at Horeb out of the midst of the fire,
¹⁶ lest you act corruptly and make for yourselves a carved image in the form of any figure: the likeness of male or female,
¹⁷ the likeness of any animal that is on the earth or the likeness of any winged bird that flies in the air,
¹⁸ the likeness of anything that creeps on the ground or the likeness of any fish that is in the water beneath the earth.
¹⁹ And take heed, lest you lift your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun, the moon, and the stars, all the host of heaven, you feel driven to worship them and serve them, which the LORD your God has given to all the peoples under the whole heaven as a heritage.
²⁰ But the LORD has taken you and brought you out of the iron furnace, out of Egypt, to be His people, an inheritance, as you are this day.
²¹ Furthermore the LORD was angry with me for your sakes, and swore that I would not cross over the Jordan, and that I would not enter the good land which the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance.
²² But I must die in this land, I must not cross over the Jordan; but you shall cross over and possess that good land.
²³ Take heed to yourselves, lest you forget the covenant of the LORD your God which He made with you, and make for yourselves a carved image in the form of anything which the LORD your God has forbidden you.
²⁴ For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.
²⁵ "When you beget children and grandchildren and have grown old in the land, and act corruptly and make a carved image in the form of anything, and do evil in the sight of the LORD your God to provoke Him to anger,
²⁶ I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that you will soon utterly perish from the land which you cross over the Jordan to possess; you will not prolong your days in it, but will be utterly destroyed.
²⁷ And the LORD will scatter you among the peoples, and you will be left few in number among the nations where the LORD will drive you.
²⁸ And there you will serve gods, the work of men's hands, wood and stone, which neither see nor hear nor eat nor smell.
²⁹ But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.
³⁰ When you are in distress, and all these things come upon you in the latter days, when you turn to the LORD your God and obey His voice
³¹ (for the LORD your God is a merciful God), He will not forsake you nor destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers which He swore to them.
³² "For ask now concerning the days that are past, which were before you, since the day that God created man on the earth, and ask from one end of heaven to the other, whether any great thing like this has happened, or anything like it has been heard.
³³ Did any people ever hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as you have heard, and live?
³⁴ Or did God ever try to go and take for Himself a nation from the midst of another nation, by trials, by signs, by wonders, by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, and by great terrors, according to all that the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes?
³⁵ To you it was shown, that you might know that the LORD Himself is God; there is none other besides Him.
³⁶ Out of heaven He let you hear His voice, that He might instruct you; on earth He showed you His great fire, and you heard His words out of the midst of the fire.
³⁷ And because He loved your fathers, therefore He chose their descendants after them; and He brought you out of Egypt with His Presence, with His mighty power,
³⁸ driving out from before you nations greater and mightier than you, to bring you in, to give you their land as an inheritance, as it is this day.
³⁹ Therefore know this day, and consider it in your heart, that the LORD Himself is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other.
⁴⁰ You shall therefore keep His statutes and His commandments which I command you today, that it may go well with you and with your children after you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which the LORD your God is giving you for all time."
⁴¹ Then Moses set apart three cities on this side of the Jordan, toward the rising of the sun,
⁴² that the manslayer might flee there, who kills his neighbor unintentionally, without having hated him in time past, and that by fleeing to one of these cities he might live:
⁴³ Bezer in the wilderness on the plateau for the Reubenites, Ramoth in Gilead for the Gadites, and Golan in Bashan for the Manassites.
⁴⁴ Now this is the law which Moses set before the children of Israel.
⁴⁵ These are the testimonies, the statutes, and the judgments which Moses spoke to the children of Israel after they came out of Egypt,
⁴⁶ on this side of the Jordan, in the valley opposite Beth Peor, in the land of Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt at Heshbon, whom Moses and the children of Israel defeated after they came out of Egypt.
⁴⁷ And they took possession of his land and the land of Og king of Bashan, two kings of the Amorites, who were on this side of the Jordan, toward the rising of the sun,
⁴⁸ from Aroer, which is on the bank of the River Arnon, even to Mount Sion (that is, Hermon),
⁴⁹ and all the plain on the east side of the Jordan as far as the Sea of the Arabah, below the slopes of Pisgah.

Deuteronomy chapter 4 niv

¹ Now, Israel, hear the decrees and laws I am about to teach you. Follow them so that you may live and may go in and take possession of the land the LORD, the God of your ancestors, is giving you.
² Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the LORD your God that I give you.
³ You saw with your own eyes what the LORD did at Baal Peor. The LORD your God destroyed from among you everyone who followed the Baal of Peor,
⁴ but all of you who held fast to the LORD your God are still alive today.
⁵ See, I have taught you decrees and laws as the LORD my God commanded me, so that you may follow them in the land you are entering to take possession of it.
⁶ Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations, who will hear about all these decrees and say, "Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people."
⁷ What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the LORD our God is near us whenever we pray to him?
⁸ And what other nation is so great as to have such righteous decrees and laws as this body of laws I am setting before you today?
⁹ Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.
¹⁰ Remember the day you stood before the LORD your God at Horeb, when he said to me, "Assemble the people before me to hear my words so that they may learn to revere me as long as they live in the land and may teach them to their children."
¹¹ You came near and stood at the foot of the mountain while it blazed with fire to the very heavens, with black clouds and deep darkness.
¹² Then the LORD spoke to you out of the fire. You heard the sound of words but saw no form; there was only a voice.
¹³ He declared to you his covenant, the Ten Commandments, which he commanded you to follow and then wrote them on two stone tablets.
¹⁴ And the LORD directed me at that time to teach you the decrees and laws you are to follow in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess.
¹⁵ You saw no form of any kind the day the LORD spoke to you at Horeb out of the fire. Therefore watch yourselves very carefully,
¹⁶ so that you do not become corrupt and make for yourselves an idol, an image of any shape, whether formed like a man or a woman,
¹⁷ or like any animal on earth or any bird that flies in the air,
¹⁸ or like any creature that moves along the ground or any fish in the waters below.
¹⁹ And when you look up to the sky and see the sun, the moon and the stars?all the heavenly array?do not be enticed into bowing down to them and worshiping things the LORD your God has apportioned to all the nations under heaven.
²⁰ But as for you, the LORD took you and brought you out of the iron-smelting furnace, out of Egypt, to be the people of his inheritance, as you now are.
²¹ The LORD was angry with me because of you, and he solemnly swore that I would not cross the Jordan and enter the good land the LORD your God is giving you as your inheritance.
²² I will die in this land; I will not cross the Jordan; but you are about to cross over and take possession of that good land.
²³ Be careful not to forget the covenant of the LORD your God that he made with you; do not make for yourselves an idol in the form of anything the LORD your God has forbidden.
²⁴ For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.
²⁵ After you have had children and grandchildren and have lived in the land a long time?if you then become corrupt and make any kind of idol, doing evil in the eyes of the LORD your God and arousing his anger,
²⁶ I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you this day that you will quickly perish from the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess. You will not live there long but will certainly be destroyed.
²⁷ The LORD will scatter you among the peoples, and only a few of you will survive among the nations to which the LORD will drive you.
²⁸ There you will worship man-made gods of wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or eat or smell.
²⁹ But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul.
³⁰ When you are in distress and all these things have happened to you, then in later days you will return to the LORD your God and obey him.
³¹ For the LORD your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your ancestors, which he confirmed to them by oath.
³² Ask now about the former days, long before your time, from the day God created human beings on the earth; ask from one end of the heavens to the other. Has anything so great as this ever happened, or has anything like it ever been heard of?
³³ Has any other people heard the voice of God speaking out of fire, as you have, and lived?
³⁴ Has any god ever tried to take for himself one nation out of another nation, by testings, by signs and wonders, by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, or by great and awesome deeds, like all the things the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your very eyes?
³⁵ You were shown these things so that you might know that the LORD is God; besides him there is no other.
³⁶ From heaven he made you hear his voice to discipline you. On earth he showed you his great fire, and you heard his words from out of the fire.
³⁷ Because he loved your ancestors and chose their descendants after them, he brought you out of Egypt by his Presence and his great strength,
³⁸ to drive out before you nations greater and stronger than you and to bring you into their land to give it to you for your inheritance, as it is today.
³⁹ Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the LORD is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other.
⁴⁰ Keep his decrees and commands, which I am giving you today, so that it may go well with you and your children after you and that you may live long in the land the LORD your God gives you for all time.
⁴¹ Then Moses set aside three cities east of the Jordan,
⁴² to which anyone who had killed a person could flee if they had unintentionally killed a neighbor without malice aforethought. They could flee into one of these cities and save their life.
⁴³ The cities were these: Bezer in the wilderness plateau, for the Reubenites; Ramoth in Gilead, for the Gadites; and Golan in Bashan, for the Manassites.
⁴⁴ This is the law Moses set before the Israelites.
⁴⁵ These are the stipulations, decrees and laws Moses gave them when they came out of Egypt
⁴⁶ and were in the valley near Beth Peor east of the Jordan, in the land of Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon and was defeated by Moses and the Israelites as they came out of Egypt.
⁴⁷ They took possession of his land and the land of Og king of Bashan, the two Amorite kings east of the Jordan.
⁴⁸ This land extended from Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Gorge to Mount Sirion (that is, Hermon),
⁴⁹ and included all the Arabah east of the Jordan, as far as the Dead Sea, below the slopes of Pisgah.

Deuteronomy chapter 4 esv

¹ "And now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the rules that I am teaching you, and do them, that you may live, and go in and take possession of the land that the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving you.
² You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God that I command you.
³ Your eyes have seen what the LORD did at Baal-peor, for the LORD your God destroyed from among you all the men who followed the Baal of Peor.
⁴ But you who held fast to the LORD your God are all alive today.
⁵ See, I have taught you statutes and rules, as the LORD my God commanded me, that you should do them in the land that you are entering to take possession of it.
⁶ Keep them and do them, for that will be your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, 'Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.'
⁷ For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the LORD our God is to us, whenever we call upon him?
⁸ And what great nation is there, that has statutes and rules so righteous as all this law that I set before you today?
⁹ "Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children's children ?
¹⁰ how on the day that you stood before the LORD your God at Horeb, the LORD said to me, 'Gather the people to me, that I may let them hear my words, so that they may learn to fear me all the days that they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children so.'
¹¹ And you came near and stood at the foot of the mountain, while the mountain burned with fire to the heart of heaven, wrapped in darkness, cloud, and gloom.
¹² Then the LORD spoke to you out of the midst of the fire. You heard the sound of words, but saw no form; there was only a voice.
¹³ And he declared to you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, that is, the Ten Commandments, and he wrote them on two tablets of stone.
¹⁴ And the LORD commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and rules, that you might do them in the land that you are going over to possess.
¹⁵ "Therefore watch yourselves very carefully. Since you saw no form on the day that the LORD spoke to you at Horeb out of the midst of the fire,
¹⁶ beware lest you act corruptly by making a carved image for yourselves, in the form of any figure, the likeness of male or female,
¹⁷ the likeness of any animal that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged bird that flies in the air,
¹⁸ the likeness of anything that creeps on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the water under the earth.
¹⁹ And beware lest you raise your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun and the moon and the stars, all the host of heaven, you be drawn away and bow down to them and serve them, things that the LORD your God has allotted to all the peoples under the whole heaven.
²⁰ But the LORD has taken you and brought you out of the iron furnace, out of Egypt, to be a people of his own inheritance, as you are this day.
²¹ Furthermore, the LORD was angry with me because of you, and he swore that I should not cross the Jordan, and that I should not enter the good land that the LORD your God is giving you for an inheritance.
²² For I must die in this land; I must not go over the Jordan. But you shall go over and take possession of that good land.
²³ Take care, lest you forget the covenant of the LORD your God, which he made with you, and make a carved image, the form of anything that the LORD your God has forbidden you.
²⁴ For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.
²⁵ "When you father children and children's children, and have grown old in the land, if you act corruptly by making a carved image in the form of anything, and by doing what is evil in the sight of the LORD your God, so as to provoke him to anger,
²⁶ I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that you will soon utterly perish from the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess. You will not live long in it, but will be utterly destroyed.
²⁷ And the LORD will scatter you among the peoples, and you will be left few in number among the nations where the LORD will drive you.
²⁸ And there you will serve gods of wood and stone, the work of human hands, that neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell.
²⁹ But from there you will seek the LORD your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul.
³⁰ When you are in tribulation, and all these things come upon you in the latter days, you will return to the LORD your God and obey his voice.
³¹ For the LORD your God is a merciful God. He will not leave you or destroy you or forget the covenant with your fathers that he swore to them.
³² "For ask now of the days that are past, which were before you, since the day that God created man on the earth, and ask from one end of heaven to the other, whether such a great thing as this has ever happened or was ever heard of.
³³ Did any people ever hear the voice of a god speaking out of the midst of the fire, as you have heard, and still live?
³⁴ Or has any god ever attempted to go and take a nation for himself from the midst of another nation, by trials, by signs, by wonders, and by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, and by great deeds of terror, all of which the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes?
³⁵ To you it was shown, that you might know that the LORD is God; there is no other besides him.
³⁶ Out of heaven he let you hear his voice, that he might discipline you. And on earth he let you see his great fire, and you heard his words out of the midst of the fire.
³⁷ And because he loved your fathers and chose their offspring after them and brought you out of Egypt with his own presence, by his great power,
³⁸ driving out before you nations greater and mightier than you, to bring you in, to give you their land for an inheritance, as it is this day,
³⁹ know therefore today, and lay it to your heart, that the LORD is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other.
⁴⁰ Therefore you shall keep his statutes and his commandments, which I command you today, that it may go well with you and with your children after you, and that you may prolong your days in the land that the LORD your God is giving you for all time."
⁴¹ Then Moses set apart three cities in the east beyond the Jordan,
⁴² that the manslayer might flee there, anyone who kills his neighbor unintentionally, without being at enmity with him in time past; he may flee to one of these cities and save his life:
⁴³ Bezer in the wilderness on the tableland for the Reubenites, Ramoth in Gilead for the Gadites, and Golan in Bashan for the Manassites.
⁴⁴ This is the law that Moses set before the people of Israel.
⁴⁵ These are the testimonies, the statutes, and the rules, which Moses spoke to the people of Israel when they came out of Egypt,
⁴⁶ beyond the Jordan in the valley opposite Beth-peor, in the land of Sihon the king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon, whom Moses and the people of Israel defeated when they came out of Egypt.
⁴⁷ And they took possession of his land and the land of Og, the king of Bashan, the two kings of the Amorites, who lived to the east beyond the Jordan;
⁴⁸ from Aroer, which is on the edge of the Valley of the Arnon, as far as Mount Sirion (that is, Hermon),
⁴⁹ together with all the Arabah on the east side of the Jordan as far as the Sea of the Arabah, under the slopes of Pisgah.

Deuteronomy chapter 4 nlt

¹ "And now, Israel, listen carefully to these decrees and regulations that I am about to teach you. Obey them so that you may live, so you may enter and occupy the land that the LORD, the God of your ancestors, is giving you.
² Do not add to or subtract from these commands I am giving you. Just obey the commands of the LORD your God that I am giving you.
³ "You saw for yourself what the LORD did to you at Baal-peor. There the LORD your God destroyed everyone who had worshiped Baal, the god of Peor.
⁴ But all of you who were faithful to the LORD your God are still alive today ? every one of you.
⁵ "Look, I now teach you these decrees and regulations just as the LORD my God commanded me, so that you may obey them in the land you are about to enter and occupy.
⁶ Obey them completely, and you will display your wisdom and intelligence among the surrounding nations. When they hear all these decrees, they will exclaim, 'How wise and prudent are the people of this great nation!'
⁷ For what great nation has a god as near to them as the LORD our God is near to us whenever we call on him?
⁸ And what great nation has decrees and regulations as righteous and fair as this body of instructions that I am giving you today?
⁹ "But watch out! Be careful never to forget what you yourself have seen. Do not let these memories escape from your mind as long as you live! And be sure to pass them on to your children and grandchildren.
¹⁰ Never forget the day when you stood before the LORD your God at Mount Sinai, where he told me, 'Summon the people before me, and I will personally instruct them. Then they will learn to fear me as long as they live, and they will teach their children to fear me also.'
¹¹ "You came near and stood at the foot of the mountain, while flames from the mountain shot into the sky. The mountain was shrouded in black clouds and deep darkness.
¹² And the LORD spoke to you from the heart of the fire. You heard the sound of his words but didn't see his form; there was only a voice.
¹³ He proclaimed his covenant ? the Ten Commandments ? which he commanded you to keep, and which he wrote on two stone tablets.
¹⁴ It was at that time that the LORD commanded me to teach you his decrees and regulations so you would obey them in the land you are about to enter and occupy.
¹⁵ "But be very careful! You did not see the LORD's form on the day he spoke to you from the heart of the fire at Mount Sinai.
¹⁶ So do not corrupt yourselves by making an idol in any form ? whether of a man or a woman,
¹⁷ an animal on the ground, a bird in the sky,
¹⁸ a small animal that scurries along the ground, or a fish in the deepest sea.
¹⁹ And when you look up into the sky and see the sun, moon, and stars ? all the forces of heaven ? don't be seduced into worshiping them. The LORD your God gave them to all the peoples of the earth.
²⁰ Remember that the LORD rescued you from the iron-smelting furnace of Egypt in order to make you his very own people and his special possession, which is what you are today.
²¹ "But the LORD was angry with me because of you. He vowed that I would not cross the Jordan River into the good land the LORD your God is giving you as your special possession.
²² You will cross the Jordan to occupy the land, but I will not. Instead, I will die here on the east side of the river.
²³ So be careful not to break the covenant the LORD your God has made with you. Do not make idols of any shape or form, for the LORD your God has forbidden this.
²⁴ The LORD your God is a devouring fire; he is a jealous God.
²⁵ "In the future, when you have children and grandchildren and have lived in the land a long time, do not corrupt yourselves by making idols of any kind. This is evil in the sight of the LORD your God and will arouse his anger.
²⁶ "Today I call on heaven and earth as witnesses against you. If you break my covenant, you will quickly disappear from the land you are crossing the Jordan to occupy. You will live there only a short time; then you will be utterly destroyed.
²⁷ For the LORD will scatter you among the nations, where only a few of you will survive.
²⁸ There, in a foreign land, you will worship idols made from wood and stone ? gods that neither see nor hear nor eat nor smell.
²⁹ But from there you will search again for the LORD your God. And if you search for him with all your heart and soul, you will find him.
³⁰ "In the distant future, when you are suffering all these things, you will finally return to the LORD your God and listen to what he tells you.
³¹ For the LORD your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon you or destroy you or forget the solemn covenant he made with your ancestors.
³² "Now search all of history, from the time God created people on the earth until now, and search from one end of the heavens to the other. Has anything as great as this ever been seen or heard before?
³³ Has any nation ever heard the voice of God speaking from fire ? as you did ? and survived?
³⁴ Has any other god dared to take a nation for himself out of another nation by means of trials, miraculous signs, wonders, war, a strong hand, a powerful arm, and terrifying acts? Yet that is what the LORD your God did for you in Egypt, right before your eyes.
³⁵ "He showed you these things so you would know that the LORD is God and there is no other.
³⁶ He let you hear his voice from heaven so he could instruct you. He let you see his great fire here on earth so he could speak to you from it.
³⁷ Because he loved your ancestors, he chose to bless their descendants, and he personally brought you out of Egypt with a great display of power.
³⁸ He drove out nations far greater than you, so he could bring you in and give you their land as your special possession, as it is today.
³⁹ "So remember this and keep it firmly in mind: The LORD is God both in heaven and on earth, and there is no other.
⁴⁰ If you obey all the decrees and commands I am giving you today, all will be well with you and your children. I am giving you these instructions so you will enjoy a long life in the land the LORD your God is giving you for all time."
⁴¹ Then Moses set apart three cities of refuge east of the Jordan River.
⁴² Anyone who killed another person unintentionally, without previous hostility, could flee there to live in safety.
⁴³ These were the cities: Bezer on the wilderness plateau for the tribe of Reuben; Ramoth in Gilead for the tribe of Gad; Golan in Bashan for the tribe of Manasseh.
⁴⁴ This is the body of instruction that Moses presented to the Israelites.
⁴⁵ These are the laws, decrees, and regulations that Moses gave to the people of Israel when they left Egypt,
⁴⁶ and as they camped in the valley near Beth-peor east of the Jordan River. (This land was formerly occupied by the Amorites under King Sihon, who ruled from Heshbon. But Moses and the Israelites destroyed him and his people when they came up from Egypt.
⁴⁷ Israel took possession of his land and that of King Og of Bashan ? the two Amorite kings east of the Jordan.
⁴⁸ So Israel conquered the entire area from Aroer at the edge of the Arnon Gorge all the way to Mount Sirion, also called Mount Hermon.
⁴⁹ And they conquered the eastern bank of the Jordan River as far south as the Dead Sea, below the slopes of Pisgah.)