5 Instead, this is what you are to do to them: tear down their altars, smash their sacred pillars, cut down their Asherah poles,j and burn their carved images. 6 For you are a holy peoplek belonging to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be his own possessionl out of all the peoples on the face of the earth.

7 “The Lord had his heart set on you and chose you, not because you were more numerous than all peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples.