Fix these words of mine into your mind and being, and tie them as a reminder on your hands and let them be symbols on your forehead.

This is how you are to deal with all those cities located far from you, those that do not belong to these nearby nations.

As for the cities of these peoples that the Lord your God is going to give you as an inheritance, you must not allow a single living thing to survive.

A woman must not wear men’s clothing, nor should a man dress up in women’s clothing, for anyone who does this is offensive to the Lord your God.

Moreover, he has raised accusations of impropriety by saying, ‘I discovered your daughter was not a virgin,’ but this is the evidence of my daughter’s virginity!” The cloth must then be spread out before the city’s elders.

The judge may sentence him to forty blows, but no more. If he is struck with more than these, you might view your fellow Israelite with contempt.

Today the Lord your God is commanding you to keep these statutes and ordinances, something you must do with all your heart and soul.

So when you cross the Jordan you must erect on Mount Ebal these stones about which I am commanding you today, and you must cover them with plaster.

“The following tribes must stand to bless the people on Mount Gerizim when you cross the Jordan: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin.

Then the Lord your God will put all these curses on your enemies, on those who hate you and persecute you.

Gather to me all your tribal elders and officials so I can speak to them directly about these things and call the heavens and the earth to witness against them.

The stones will be a reminder to you. When your children ask someday, ‘Why are these stones important to you?’

He told the Israelites, “When your children someday ask their fathers, ‘What do these stones represent?’

Joshua said, “Open the cave’s mouth and bring the five kings out of the cave to me.”

Joshua captured in one campaign all these kings and their lands, for the Lord God of Israel fought for Israel.

All these kings gathered and joined forces at the Waters of Merom to fight Israel.

But the men of Manasseh were unable to conquer these cities; the Canaanites managed to remain in those areas.

as well as all the towns around these cities as far as Baalath Beer (Ramah of the Negev). This was the land assigned to the tribe of Simeon by its clans.

So the Israelites assigned these cities and their grazing areas to the Levites from their own holdings, as the Lord had instructed.

So the Israelites assigned to the Levites by lot these cities and their grazing areas, as the Lord had instructed Moses.