Worshiping Other Gods

²¹ Do not set up any wooden Asherah pole^(A) beside the altar you build to the Lord your God,^{(B) 22} and do not erect a sacred stone,^(C) for these the Lord your God hates.

17 Do not sacrifice to the Lord your God an ox or a sheep that has any defect^(D) or flaw in it, for that would be detestable^(E) to him.^(F)

² If a man or woman living among you in one of the towns the Lord gives you is found doing evil in the eyes of the Lord your God in violation of his covenant,^{(G) 3} and contrary to my command^(H) has worshiped other gods,^(I) bowing down to them or to the sun^(J) or the moon or the stars in the sky,^{(K) 4} and this has been brought to your attention, then you must investigate it thoroughly. If it is true^(L) and it has been proved that this detestable thing has been done in Israel,^{(M) 5} take the man or woman who has done this evil deed to your city gate and stone that person to death.^{(N) 6} On the testimony of two or three witnesses a person is to be put to death, but no one is to be put to death on the testimony of only one witness.^{(O) 7} The hands of the witnesses must be the first in putting that person to death,^(P) and then the hands of all the people.^(Q) You must purge the evil^(R) from among you.