21 Never put an Asherah pole near the altar to your god Yahweh that you’ll build for yourself,[ref] 22 and don’t erect any stone pillars that your god Yahweh hates.[ref]

17 Don’t sacrifice any animal to your god Yahweh that has any blemish or defect, because he detests that.

2 In any of the towns that your god Yahweh is giving you, if you discover any man or woman who does evil by disobeying the agreement that he’s made with you 3 and worshipped other gods, or the sun, moon, or stars—all of which I’ve prohibited you from doing,[ref] 4 and it it’s reported to you, and you listen and investigate it thoroughly, and it’s true that this detestable thing was done in Yisrael, 5 you must bring that man or woman out to the town gates, and execute them by throwing rocks at them. 6 Note that that person can only be executed if there’s at least two witnesses as evidence—no one can be put to death on the testimony of just one witness.[ref] 7 The witnesses must be the ones to throw the first rocks then all the other people after that, and that’s how you’ll remove evil from your society.[ref]

8 If a case is too difficult for you yourselves to judge (e.g., two parties claiming bloodshed, or lawsuits, or assaults, or other disputes within your towns), you must leave town and go to the place that your god Yahweh is going to choose. 9 You should go to the Levitical priests and to the judge on duty there and they will produce a judgement. 10 Whatever the decision is that’s made at the place Yahweh will choose, that’s the verdict that must be applied to the case—11 accept their judgement and do what they say without making any adjustments to their decision. 12 Anyone who shows contempt for the decision of the judge or the priest who’s standing there serving your god Yahweh, then that person must be executed to remove that evil from Yisrael, 13 then all the people will hear about it and be afraid, and it’ll stamp out such arrogance.