Has gone and served other gods and worshiped them: this is the sin that breaks the covenant, of which the Ten Commandments are the basic stipulations or requirements (see 4.13). Idolatry is prohibited at the very beginning of the commandments (5.7-8; see also 4.19; 8.19). The verbal form has gone does not necessarily indicate travel to a pagan shrine; the verb here is used as an auxiliary (like the frequent use of the verb “to rise”). Contemporary English Version uses the word “start,” as in “… may start worshiping.”

It may be difficult to establish a difference between served and worshiped pagan deities (see 4.19). “Bow down and worship” may be an alternative model.

Or the sun or the moon or any of the host of heaven: see 4.19.

Which I have forbidden: as it stands, the first person “I” of the text is Moses himself, who is the speaker. But it seems fairly clear that the text means to say that Yahweh, the God of Israel, was the one who had prohibited idol worship. Bible en français courant follows the Septuagint, “a thing he did not command,” and translates “the LORD never ordered you to do such a thing.” It is on the grounds of context, not text, that Good News Translation has made Yahweh the subject: “contrary to the LORD’s command.” Biblia Dios Habla Hoy and Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje have done the same, and the translator is encouraged to follow this example.

An alternative translation model combining verses 2 and 3 is the following:

• Moses said to the Israelites, “When you are living in the towns that the LORD your God is giving you, you may hear that a man or woman in your town has disobeyed the LORD’s command and has begun to bow down and worship other gods, or even the sun, moon, or stars. By doing this that person has sinned against the LORD and broken his covenant.

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 .

It is told you and you hear of it: this may be a typical double way of saying one thing (so New International Version “this has been brought to your attention”; New Jerusalem Bible “and this person is denounced to you”; also Bible en français courant; and see Good News Translation). Some take it as an either-or proposition (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible), but this does not seem very likely.

You shall inquire diligently: or “make a thorough investigation.” New International Version has “you must investigate it thoroughly”; and see Good News Translation. Contemporary English Version has “You must carefully find out if….” See the same kind of language in 13.14.

An abominable thing: see verse 1; 13.14.

Has been done in Israel: it may be that Israel here is not the country as such but a way of speaking of the people. But most take it as the country itself.

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 apostasy. It is idolatry, forsaking Yahweh for other gods. Its punishment is death (see 13.6-11).

Bring forth to your gates: the open square in front of the city gate was the place where business and legal matters were settled (see Josh 20.6; Ruth 4.1). Good News Translation, on the basis that the actual execution, by stoning, would be done outside the town, translates “outside the town.” Contemporary English Version is similar with “outside your town gates.” It is interesting that the Septuagint omits “to your gates”: “You shall take out [from their home] that man or woman and stone them….” On the basis of Lev 24.14 and Num 15.36, some commentators hold that the execution itself would be outside the town, after the person had been condemned in the public square inside the gates. Deut 22.24 seems to support this (see also 21.19-21). A translator should feel free to make it clear that the stoning was done outside the town. For “town” see 1.1.

This evil thing: some word like “crime” or “terrible sin,” may serve.

You shall stone that man or woman to death with stones: see 13.10.

An alternative translation model for this verse is:

• Then take the man or woman who has done this crime outside the town gates and throw stones at that person until that person dies.

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 .

On the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses: as the second part of the verse shows, this means simply “two or more witnesses” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, Good News Translation). New International Version and New Revised Standard Version “of two or three witnesses” is not good, since in current English this expression actually means “[just] a few.” See 19.15. Alternative translation models for the first part of this verse are “However, you may put that person to death only if two or more people give evidence against him,” or “… two or more people say, ‘I saw that person worshiping idols.’ ”

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 hand of the witnesses shall be first against him: the witnesses, whose testimony led to the person’s condemnation, were to be the first to throw stones at the condemned person.

Afterward the hand of all the people: for both groups, normal English usage is “The witnesses will be the first to throw stones at the condemned person, and after that all the other people are to do the same” (see also Good News Translation).

For the rest of the verse, see 13.5.

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 .

Coming to the Levitical priests: a break should be made at the end of verse 8, and this verse should begin a new sentence, “Go to….” The Levitical priests, or “the priests, the descendants of Levi,” were Levites serving in the central sanctuary. All priests were descendants of Aaron, hence, Levites. For “Levite” see 12.12, and for priests see 10.6.

The judge who is in office in those days: it appears that judges took turns. It is not clear how the Levitical priests and the presiding judge worked together on these cases. Contemporary English Version translates the first part of the verse as “this court will be made up of one judge and several priests who serve at the LORD’s altar.”

You shall consult them: that is, lay (or, present) your case before them.

They shall declare to you the decision: they will hand down the verdict, or give their decision about the case.

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 .

What they declare to you from that place which the LORD will choose: this is wordy and awkward, involving quite a bit of repetition. It may be shortened as follows:

• There, in the place that the LORD will choose, they will hand down their verdict and tell you what you are to do; and you must do exactly what they tell you to do.

They declare: the same verb that is used in verse 9.

They direct you: that is, they tell you what you 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 .

Again the verse repeats what has already been said.

According to the instructions which they give you: this matches “they declare” in verse 10.

According to the decrees which they pronounce to you: this matches “they direct you” in verse 10. It means the decision the judge makes in any given case. The Hebrew is rather wordy and repetitive. Translators must decide whether such repetition is acceptable in their language, or whether to summarize as some translations have done; for example, Good News Translation has “accept their verdict and follow their instructions in every detail,” and Contemporary English Version is more concise, with “Do exactly what they tell you.”

You shall not turn aside, either to the right hand or to the left: see 5.32. The meaning of this figure of speech is quite clear; it means to carry out all instructions strictly, to the last detail, without neglecting anything.

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 .