²⁹The Lord your God will bring you into the land to take it over. When he does, you must announce the blessings from Mount Gerizim. You must announce the curses from Mount Ebal. ³⁰As you know, those mountains are across the Jordan River. They are beyond the road that runs along the west side of the Jordan. They are near the large trees of Moreh. The mountains are in the territory of the Canaanites, who live in the Arabah Valley near Gilgal.

³¹You are about to go across the Jordan River. You will enter the land and take it over. The Lord your God is giving it to you. You will take it over and live there. ³²When you do, make sure you obey all of the rules and laws I’m giving you today.

Worship Only Where the Lord Wants You To

12Here are the rules and laws you must obey. Be careful to follow them in the land the Lord has given you to take as your own. He’s the God of your people who lived long ago. Obey these rules and laws as long as you live in the land.

²You will soon drive the nations out of it. Completely destroy all of the places where they worship their gods. Destroy them on the high mountains, on the hills, and under every green tree. ³Break down their altars. Smash their sacred stones. Burn up the poles they use to worship the goddess Asherah. Cut down the statues of their gods. Wipe out the names of their gods from those places.

⁴You must not worship the Lord your God the way those nations worship their gods. ⁵Instead, go to the special place he will choose from among all of your tribes. He will put his Name there. That’s where you must go.

⁶Take your burnt offerings and sacrifices to that place. Bring your special gifts and a tenth of everything you produce. Take with you what you have promised to give. Bring any other offerings you choose to give. And bring the male animals among your livestock that were born first to their mothers.

⁷You and your families will eat at the place the Lord your God will choose. He will be with you there. You will find joy in everything you have done. That’s because he has blessed you.

⁸You must not do as we’re doing here today. All of us are doing only what we think is right. ⁹That’s because you haven’t yet reached the place the Lord is giving you. Your God will give you peace and rest there.

¹⁰But first you will go across the Jordan River. You will settle in the land he’s giving you. It will belong to you as your share. He will give you peace and rest from all of your enemies around you. You will live in safety.

¹¹The Lord your God will choose a special place. He will put his Name there. That’s where you must bring everything I command you to bring. That includes your burnt offerings and sacrifices. It includes your special gifts and a tenth of everything you produce. It also includes all of the things of value that you promised to give to the Lord.

¹²Be filled with joy there in the sight of the Lord your God. Your children should also be joyful. So should your male and female servants. And so should the Levites from your towns. The Levites won’t receive any part of the land as their share.

¹³Be careful not to sacrifice your burnt offerings anywhere you want to. ¹⁴Offer them only at the place the Lord will choose in one of your tribes. There obey everything I command you.

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