Examples of Legal Cases

16:21 You must not plant any kind of tree as a sacred Asherah pole34 near the altar of the Lord your God which you build for yourself. 16:22 You must not erect a sacred pillar,35 a thing the Lord your God detests. 17:1 You must not sacrifice to him1 a bull or sheep that has a blemish or any other defect, because that is considered offensive2 to the Lord your God. 17:2 Suppose a man or woman is discovered among you—in one of your villages3 that the Lord your God is giving you—who sins before the Lord your God4 and breaks his covenant 17:3 by serving other gods and worshiping them—the sun,5 moon, or any other heavenly bodies which I have not permitted you to worship.6 17:4 When it is reported to you and you hear about it, you must investigate carefully. If it is indeed true that such a disgraceful thing7 is being done in Israel, 17:5 you must bring to your city gates8 that man or woman who has done this wicked thing—that very man or woman—and you must stone that person to death.9 17:6 At the testimony of two or three witnesses they must be executed. They cannot be put to death on the testimony of only one witness. 17:7 The witnesses10 must be first to begin the execution, and then all the people11 are to join in afterward. In this way you will purge evil from among you.