Deuteronomy 4:26

4:26 I invoke heaven and earth as witnesses against you ¹  today that you will surely and swiftly be removed ²  from the very land you are about to cross the Jordan to possess. You will not last long there because you will surely be ³  annihilated.

Leviticus 26:31-33

26:31 I will lay your cities waste ⁴  and make your sanctuaries desolate, and I will refuse to smell your soothing aromas. 26:32 I myself will make the land desolate and your enemies who live in it will be appalled. 26:33 I will scatter you among the nations and unsheathe the sword ⁵  after you, so your land will become desolate and your cities will become a waste.

Leviticus 26:38

26:38 You will perish among the nations; the land of your enemies will consume you.

Joshua 23:16

23:16 If you violate the covenantal laws of the Lord your God which he commanded you to keep, ⁶  and follow, worship, and bow down to other gods, ⁷  the Lord will be very angry with you and you will disappear ⁸  quickly from the good land which he gave to you.”

¹ sn I invoke heaven and earth as witnesses against you. This stock formula introduces what is known form-critically as a רִיב (riv) or controversy pattern. It is commonly used in the ancient Near Eastern world in legal contexts and in the OT as a forensic or judicial device to draw attention to Israel’s violation of the Lord’s covenant with them (see Deut 30:19; Isa 1:2; 3:13; Jer 2:9). Since court proceedings required the testimony of witnesses, the Lord here summons heaven and earth (that is, all creation) to testify to his faithfulness, Israel’s disobedience, and the threat of judgment.

² tn Or “be destroyed”; KJV “utterly perish”; NLT “will quickly disappear”; CEV “you won’t have long to live.”

³ tn Or “be completely” (so NCV, TEV). It is not certain here if the infinitive absolute indicates the certainty of the following action (cf. NIV) or its degree.

⁴ tn Heb “And I will give your cities a waste”; NLT “make your cities desolate.”

⁵ tn Heb “and I will empty sword” (see HALOT 1228 s.v. ריק 3).

⁶ tn Heb “when you violate the covenant of the Lord your God which he commanded you.”

⁷ tn Heb “and you walk and serve other gods and bow down to them.”

⁸ tn Or “perish.”