Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 3:21

Joshua has seen how Yahweh enabled the Israelites to defeat Kings Sihon and Og (these two kings—which Good News Translation makes clear) and occupy their lands; and Yahweh will do the same in all the kingdoms the Israelites will invade in Canaan, west of the Jordan.

All that the LORD your God has done to these two kings may be alternatively expressed as “how the LORD our [inclusive] God has helped us to destroy King Sihon and King Og.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 3:22

You shall not fear them: English translations make it appear that Moses is addressing Joshua; but the plural forms in Hebrew make it clear that Moses is speaking to all the people, and not only to Joshua. A translation should make that clear if the target language, like English, does not have different forms for the singular and the plural.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 3:25

Let me go over: that is, “Let me cross the Jordan River,” or “Let me go to the other side of the Jordan.”

I pray: this represents in English the Hebrew particle of polite entreaty. In many languages it will be necessary to use an equivalent polite formula here; for example, “Please let me cross the Jordan River…” (Contemporary English Version).

The good land: it is good as a place that will make a good country for the Israelites, a fertile land. So we may say “a fertile land,” or “a land that will grow good crops.”

Beyond the Jordan: on the west side of the river.

That goodly hill country: that is, that beautiful, or fine, hill country. For hill country see 1.1.

Lebanon: the Lebanon Mountains, to the north.

In some languages Moses’ quote (verses 24-25) will end with something like “That is what I said to Yahweh.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 3:26

The LORD was angry with me on your account: the verb, different from the two verbs used in 1.34, 37, is a strong one, picturing Yahweh as furious with Moses. For a comment on angry see “angered,” 1.24.

On your account: this refers to their lack of faith when Yahweh commanded them to invade the land (2.26-33). It seems strange that Yahweh should be angry with Moses because of the Israelites, but as their leader Moses must bear responsibility for their behavior. “Because of you people” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version) is a good model.

Would not hearken to me: that is, “would not listen to me,” “would not pay attention to my plea.”

Let it suffice you: this very inadequate translation is improved in New Revised Standard Version, “Enough from you!”; see also Revised English Bible “Enough!” Good News Translation “That’s enough!” and their equivalents in Spanish, Portuguese, and French.

Speak no more to me about this matter: Good News Translation has “Don’t mention this again,” but we may also express this as “I don’t want to hear you talking about this any more.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 3:27

Go to the top of Pisgah: in some languages the equivalent of “Climb [up] to the top of Mount Pisgah” will be more natural style.

Lift up your eyes … and behold it with your eyes: this literal word-for-word equivalence of the Hebrew text is quaint and unnatural. Something like “take a good look … look all around” is normal English. In certain languages this will be expressed as “look out over….” (See also I lift up my eyes to the hills)

Westward … northward … southward … eastward: languages usually have a standard order or pattern for referring to the four points of the compass. In English and many other languages it is “north, south, east, and west.” In some languages something like “Look in all directions” or “Look all around you” will be used. Translators should use the patterns followed in their languages. (See also cardinal directions (north, south, east, west)

You shall not go over this Jordan: the literal translation “this Jordan” makes it sound like there is some other Jordan elsewhere. Contemporary English Version has a good model: “but you are not going to cross the Jordan River.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 3:28

Charge Joshua: “Give Joshua instructions [or, orders].”

Encourage and strengthen: there are usually idiomatic phrases in a given language, sometimes including bodily features, that serve as vivid equivalents of the text; for example, “cause him to have a brave heart, and give strength to his heart.”

He shall go over at the head of this people: “he will lead the Israelites across the river.”

He shall put them in possession: by means of his leadership, Joshua will enable the Israelites to conquer and occupy the land.

Which you shall see: that is, from the top of Mount Pisgah (34.1-3).

In some languages it will be helpful to restructure this verse as follows:

• It is Joshua who is going to lead the people of Israel across the Jordan river to occupy the land that you see before you. So help him be strong and brave, and tell him what he must do.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 3:29

It is not certain where the town of Bethpeor was located, other than that it was on the east side of the Jordan. It is probably the same as Baalpeor (4.3), perhaps opposite Jericho.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 4:1

And now, O Israel, give heed to: since this begins a new section, it is a good idea to reintroduce Moses as the speaker, as Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version do. And now marks a turning point, a transition in the discourse. O is a marker in old English which Revised Standard Version uses to indicate that someone is being addressed. It is routinely omitted in New Revised Standard Version. Israel refers to “people of Israel,” “Israelites,” or even “fellow-Israelites.” It is advisable to begin Moses’ words with the vocative: “People of Israel! Obey….” In this context give heed to means “obey,” “follow,” “put into practice.”

The statutes and the ordinances: in this context the two Hebrew words mean much the same: “rules and regulations,” “laws and commands,” all the laws that regulated all aspects of the Israelites’ lives. There are other Hebrew words used (see especially Psalm 119), and some languages will not have more than two or three different terms for “laws,” in which case something like “all the laws,” or “all the rules and regulations” may be used. However, in some languages ordinances and statutes will be described as “all the things that people must do or not do.”

Which I teach you: “that I am telling [or, teaching] you,” “that I am making known to you.” This is a process of education and learning; the Israelites are not simply to obey the laws, but they are to know them, and in some cases even to memorize them.

And do them: New Revised Standard Version “that I am teaching you to observe” is closer to the Hebrew. Here “to observe” means “to obey.” An alternative translation model for the first part of this verse is “Then Moses said to the people of Israel, ‘You must obey all the things that I am telling [or, teaching] you to do or not to do.’ ”

That you may live and …: that is, “so that you may survive to enter” (New Jerusalem Bible). Moses has no idea how long it will be before the Israelites begin to invade (go in) and conquer (take possession of) the land of Canaan (see 1.8).

The LORD, the God of your fathers: if “your” means for readers that Yahweh is not the God of Moses, then the inclusive “our” should be used, “the God of our ancestors” (see 1.11). For LORD see 1.3. For fathers or “ancestors” see 1.8. Contemporary English Version translates the phrase God of your fathers as “He is the God your ancestors worshiped.”

Gives you: “is giving you,” “is about to give you.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .