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.

Deuteronomy 20:14

20:14 However, the women, little children, cattle, and anything else in the city – all its plunder – you may take for yourselves as spoil. You may take from your enemies the plunder that the Lord your God has given you.

Deuteronomy 22:4

22:4 When you see 4  your neighbor’s donkey or ox fallen along the road, do not ignore it; 5  instead, you must be sure 6  to help him get the animal on its feet again. 7 

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 “you must not see.” See note at 22:1.

5 tn Heb “and (must not) hide yourself from them.”

6 tn The Hebrew text uses the infinitive absolute for emphasis, which the translation indicates with “be sure.”

7 tn Heb “help him to lift them up.” In keeping with English style the singular is used in the translation, and the referent (“the animal”) has been specified for clarity.