Since, in the enlarged territory, some Israelites would be living a great distance from the one place of worship, permission is given them to eat at home. This repeats essentially verse 15.

The place … put his name there: see verses 5, 11.

Any of your herd or your flock: that is, “any of your cattle or sheep” (see Good News Translation). God has given these animals to the Israelites (see verse 15).

As I have commanded you: Moses is the speaker, and he is setting forth these rules and regulations.

You may eat within your towns as much as you desire: as in verse 15.

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 .

See the second half of verse 15.

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 .

The prohibition to eat blood (verse 16) is here justified by the statement the blood is the life. This may have to be expressed as “it is the blood that gives life to a living being.”

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 .

See the last part of verse 16.

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 .

You shall not eat it: this is the third time the prohibition is given. In many languages we may avoid the repetition by saying “If you obey this command” (Good News Translation).

All may go well with you and your children after you: see 4.40; 6.18.

When you do what is right in the sight of the LORD: see 6.18, where the fuller phrase “what is right and good” is used (as in verse 26).

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 .

The holy things which are due from you: this refers to the sacrifices and offerings made to God. The word holy here does not have a moral sense but means “sacred,” “offered or dedicated to God.” So Good News Translation has “your offerings and gifts that you have promised to the LORD,” and Contemporary English Version “all sacrifices and offerings to the LORD.”

Votive offerings: see verse 6.

The place which the LORD will choose: see verses 5, 11, 14, 18, 21.

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 .

Here directions are given for the burnt offerings (see also verse 6).

Offer the flesh and blood upon the altar: the whole animal is to be burned on the altar.

The blood of your sacrifices: in Revised Standard Version sacrifices appears to refer to the same burnt offerings. Actually this is another kind of sacrifice, mentioned in 27.7 and elsewhere, and which in Hebrew is there called an “offering of shalom” (Good News Translation “fellowship offerings,” Revised Standard Version “peace offerings,” and New Revised Standard Version “offerings of well-being”; see also Lev 3; 7.11-36). These were offerings to affirm shalom or “fellowship” with a fellow Israelite and with God. This should be made clear in translation. So Bible en français courant has “If they are complete sacrifices…; if they are fellowship sacrifices….” Another way to express sacrifices here is “Offerings to restore fellowship with people.” For the different types of sacrifice, see verse 6.

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 .

This is almost the same as verse 25. See also 5.16, 29; 6.18. Here the adverb for ever is added.

The verse may be restructured in the following way:

• If you carefully obey everything [the words] that I have commanded you, you will be doing what the LORD your God says is right and good. Then all will go well with you and your descendants forever [or, you and your descendants will prosper forever].

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 .