Discovery BoxDeuteronomy 4:26 
Context4:26 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
Context20:14 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
Context22:4 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
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.
