Study Desk

"You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath, or in the water under the earth.

Then the LORD said to Moses, "This is what you shall say to the sons of Israel: 'You yourselves have seen that I have spoken to you from heaven.

"It is a sign between Me and the sons of Israel forever; for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, but on the seventh day He ceased from labor, and was refreshed."

'The LORD your God has multiplied you, and behold, you are this day like the stars of heaven in number.

'Where can we go up? Our brothers have made our hearts melt, by saying, "The people are bigger and taller than we; the cities are large and fortified up to heaven. And besides, we saw the sons of the Anakim there."'

'Lord GOD, You have begun to show Your servant Your greatness and Your strong hand; for what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do such works and mighty acts as Yours?

"And be careful not to raise your eyes to heaven and look at the sun, the moon, and the stars, all the heavenly lights, and allow yourself to be drawn away and worship them and serve them, things which the LORD your God has allotted to all the peoples under the whole heaven.

I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you today, that you will certainly perish quickly from the land where you are going over the Jordan to take possession of it. You will not live long on it, but will be utterly destroyed.

"Therefore know today, and take it to your heart, that the LORD, He is God in heaven above and on the earth below; there is no other.

'You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth.

"And He will hand over their kings to you, so that you will eliminate their name from under heaven; no one will be able to stand against you until you have destroyed them.

"Hear, Israel! You are crossing the Jordan today, to go in to dispossess nations greater and mightier than you, cities that are great and fortified to heaven,

'Leave Me alone, that I may destroy them and wipe out their name from under heaven; and I will make of you a nation mightier and greater than they.'

"Behold, to the LORD your God belong heaven and the highest heavens, the earth and all that is in it.

"Your fathers went down to Egypt seventy persons in all, and now the LORD your God has made you as numerous as the stars of heaven.

"But the land into which you are about to cross to possess it, a land of hills and valleys, drinks water from the rain of heaven,

"So it shall come about, when the LORD your God has given you rest from all your surrounding enemies in the land which the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance to possess, that you shall wipe out the mention of the name Amalek from under heaven; you must not forget.

'Look down from Your holy dwelling place, from heaven, and bless Your people Israel, and the ground which You have given us, a land flowing with milk and honey just as You swore to our fathers.'

"The heaven which is over your head shall be bronze, and the earth which is under you, iron.

"The LORD will make the rain of your land powder and dust; from heaven it shall come down on you until you are destroyed.