Study Desk

When you cross the Yarden to the land Adonai your God is giving you, you are to set up large stones, put plaster on them,

and, after crossing over, write this Torah on them, every word — so that you can enter the land Adonai your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey, as Adonai , the God of your ancestors, promised you.

There you are to erect an altar to Adonai your God, an altar made of stones. You are not to use any iron tool on them,

but are to build the altar of Adonai your God of uncut stones; and you are to offer burnt offerings on it to Adonai your God.

Also you are to sacrifice peace offerings, eat there and be joyful in the presence of Adonai your God.

Next Moshe and the cohanim, who are L'vi'im, spoke to all Isra'el. They said, "Be quiet; and listen, Isra'el! Today you have become the people of Adonai your God.

Therefore you are to listen to what Adonai your God says and obey his mitzvot and laws, which I am giving you today."

"If you listen closely to what Adonai your God says, observing and obeying all his mitzvot which I am giving you today, Adonai your God will raise you high above all the nations on earth;

and all the following blessings will be yours in abundance — if you will do what Adonai your God says:

" Adonai will order a blessing to be with you in your barns and in everything you undertake; he will bless you in the land Adonai your God is giving you.

" Adonai will establish you as a people separated out for himself, as he has sworn to you — if you will observe the mitzvot of Adonai your God and follow his ways.

Adonai will make you the head and not the tail; and you will be only above, never below — if you will listen to, observe and obey the mitzvot of Adonai your God

"But if you refuse to pay attention to what Adonai your God says, and do not observe and obey all his mitzvot and regulations which I am giving you today, then all the following curses will be yours in abundance:

" Adonai your God will cause you to be defeated before your enemies; you will advance on them one way and flee before them seven. You will become an object of horror to every kingdom on earth.

"All these curses will come on you, pursuing you and overtaking you until you are destroyed, because you didn't pay attention to what Adonai your God said, observing his mitzvot and regulations that he gave you.

Because you didn't serve Adonai your God with joy and gladness in your heart when you had such an abundance of everything;

They will besiege all your towns until your high, fortified walls, in which you trusted, collapse everywhere in your land, which Adonai your God gave you.

Then, because of the severity of the siege and distress that your enemies are inflicting on you, you will eat the offspring of your own body, the flesh of your own sons and daughters, whom Adonai your God has given you.

"If you will not observe and obey all the words of this Torah that are written in this book, so that you will fear this glorious and awesome name, Adonai your God;

You will be left few in number, whereas you were once as numerous as the stars in the sky — because you did not pay attention to the voice of Adonai your God.