traditions. Israel nurtured divergent traditions about their first settlements in the land. Besides the Shechemite tradition recounted in Deut 27 we find other versions describing foundation ceremonies linked to other places. According to a cycle of traditions crystallized at Gilgal, the children of Israel crossed the Jordan at Gilgal and erected stones there (Josh 3–4). Instead of a written covenant we find there the ceremony of circumcision, which is considered the sign of the covenant in Gen 17,