Deuteronomy 12:4

Contemporary English Version (Anglicised) 2012

Don't worship the LORD your God in the way those nations worship their gods.

Cross References

1 Kings 14:15

The people of Israel have made the LORD angry by setting up sacred poles for worshipping the goddess Asherah. So the LORD will punish them until they shake like grass in a stream. He will take them out of the land he gave to their ancestors, then scatter them as far away as the River Euphrates.

Leviticus 20:23

The nations I am chasing out did these disgusting things, and I hated them for it, so don't follow their example.

Deuteronomy 12:3

Wherever these nations worship their gods, you must tear down their altars, break their sacred stones, burn the sacred poles used in worshipping the goddess Asherah, and smash their idols to pieces. Destroy these places of worship so completely that no one will remember they were ever there.

Deuteronomy 12:5

Soon you will cross the Jordan, and the LORD will help you conquer your enemies and let you live in peace, there in the land he has given you. But after you are settled, life will be different. You must not offer sacrifices anywhere you want to. Instead, the LORD will choose a place somewhere in Israel where you must go to worship him. All your sacrifices and offerings must be taken there, including sacrifices to please the LORD and any gift you promise or voluntarily give him. That's where you must also take one tenth of your grain, wine, and olive oil, as well as the firstborn of your cattle, sheep, and goats. You and your family and servants will eat your gifts and sacrifices and celebrate there at the place of worship, because the LORD your God has made you successful in everything you have done. And since Levites will not have any land of their own, you must ask some of them to come along and celebrate with you. Sometimes you may want to kill an animal for food and not as a sacrifice. If the LORD has blessed you and given you enough cows or sheep or goats, then you can butcher one of them where you live. You can eat it just like the meat from a deer or gazelle that you kill when you go hunting. And even those people who are unclean and unfit for worship can have some of the meat. But you must not eat the blood of any animal—let the blood drain out on the ground.

Deuteronomy 20:18

If you allow them to live, they will persuade you to worship their disgusting gods, and you will be unfaithful to the LORD.

Joshua 22:15

Phinehas and these leaders went to Gilead and met with the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and East Manasseh. They said: