² Destroy completely all the places on the high mountains,^(A) on the hills and under every spreading tree,^(B) where the nations you are dispossessing worship their gods.

⁵ This is what you are to do to them: Break down their altars, smash their sacred stones, cut down their Asherah poles^[a](A) and burn their idols in the fire.^(B)

⁴ He offered sacrifices and burned incense^(A) at the high places, on the hilltops and under every spreading tree.^(B)

²⁵ The images of their gods you are to burn^(A) in the fire. Do not covet^(B) the silver and gold on them, and do not take it for yourselves, or you will be ensnared^(C) by it, for it is detestable^(D) to the Lord your God. ²⁶ Do not bring a detestable thing into your house or you, like it, will be set apart for destruction.^(E) Regard it as vile and utterly detest it, for it is set apart for destruction.

⁵¹ “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you cross the Jordan into Canaan,^{(A) 52} drive out all the inhabitants of the land before you. Destroy all their carved images and their cast idols, and demolish all their high places.^(B)

Unfaithful Israel

⁶ During the reign of King Josiah,^(A) the Lord said to me, “Have you seen what faithless^(B) Israel has done? She has gone up on every high hill and under every spreading tree^(C) and has committed adultery^(D) there.

¹⁰ They set up sacred stones^(A) and Asherah poles^(B) on every high hill and under every spreading tree.^{(C) 11} At every high place they burned incense, as the nations whom the Lord had driven out before them had done. They did wicked things that aroused the Lord’s anger.

¹² Be careful not to make a treaty^(A) with those who live in the land where you are going, or they will be a snare^(B) among you. ¹³ Break down their altars, smash their sacred stones and cut down their Asherah poles.^{[a](C) 14} Do not worship any other god,^(D) for the Lord, whose name^(E) is Jealous, is a jealous God.^(F)

¹⁵ “Be careful not to make a treaty^(G) with those who live in the land; for when they prostitute^(H) themselves to their gods and sacrifice to them, they will invite you and you will eat their sacrifices.^{(I) 16} And when you choose some of their daughters as wives^(J) for your sons and those daughters prostitute themselves to their gods,^(K) they will lead your sons to do the same.

¹⁷ “Do not make any idols.^(L)