Deuteronomy 12:3

12:3 You must tear down their altars, shatter their sacred pillars, ¹  burn up their sacred Asherah poles, ²  and cut down the images of their gods; you must eliminate their very memory from that place.

Deuteronomy 11:17

11:17 Then the anger of the Lord will erupt ³  against you and he will close up the sky ⁴  so that it does not rain. The land will not yield its produce, and you will soon be removed ⁵  from the good land that the Lord ⁶  is about to give you.

¹ sn Sacred pillars. These are the stelae (stone pillars; the Hebrew term is מַצֵּבֹת, matsevot) associated with Baal worship, perhaps to mark a spot hallowed by an alleged visitation of the gods. See also Deut 7:5.

² sn Sacred Asherah poles. The Hebrew term (plural) is אֲשֵׁרִים (’asherim). See note on the word “(leafy) tree” in v. 2, and also Deut 7:5.

³ tn Heb “will become hot”; KJV, NASB, NRSV “will be kindled”; NAB “will flare up”; NIV, NLT “will burn.”

⁴ tn Or “heavens.” The Hebrew term שָׁמַיִם (shamayim) may be translated “heaven(s)” or “sky” depending on the context.

⁵ tn Or “be destroyed”; NAB, NIV “will soon perish.”

⁶ tn Heb “the Lord.” See note on “he” in 11:4.