The first fruits of your grain, and of your wine and of your oil refers to the “first share” (Good News Translation), or “first part” (Contemporary English Version), of the grain harvest and the other products. See the same agricultural products in 7.13.

The first of the fleece of your sheep: this is the only place where the wool from the first shearing of the sheep is included as part of the priests’ dues. In some languages this will be rendered as “the first part of the hair that you cut from your sheep.”

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 .

In verses 6-8 instructions are given for Levites who may go to the sanctuary and there serve for a while as priests. They are to be given the same as their fellow Levites who serve there permanently.

In verse 6 the words and he may come when he desires stresses the strong desire that motivates a Levite to go to the sanctuary. The Hebrew phrase is, literally, “all the desire of his being”; so Revised English Bible has “if he comes in the eagerness of his heart.” The text says more than the simple “if he wants to go” or “if he decides to go.” Something like “any Levite who sets his heart on going” will be a better alternative. Notice should be taken of the point of view of the writer (and reader) in the use of the verb come; a translator should be aware of what the text implies, and may decide that “go” is better. For a comment on Levite see 12.12.

The place which the LORD shall choose: as always, the central sanctuary (see 17.10).

An alternative translation model for this verse is:

• If a Levite sets his heart [or, desires] to leave his home town and go [or, come] to the place where the LORD chooses to be worshiped, he may do this.

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 .

For the instruction as such and the terms used in this verse, see verse 5. The LORD his God may also be expressed as “Yahweh, the God he serves.”

Before the LORD: in the central sanctuary.

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 Levite who spends some time at the sanctuary is to receive the same as his fellow Levites.

Besides what he receives from the sale of his patrimony: the exact meaning of this clause is not altogether clear. Most translations agree with Revised Standard Version, and Revised English Bible phrases it nicely: “besides what he may inherit from his father’s family.” New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh “without regard to personal gifts or patrimonies” is a bit technical; New International Version is more natural: “received money from the sale of family possessions” (similarly Contemporary English Version). What is involved here is not land, that is, real estate, since the Levites had no land, but houses and other belongings.

An alternative translation model for this verse is:

• He is to receive the same amount of food as the other priests and may keep whatever money his family sends him from the sale of their possessions.

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 .

There shall not be found among you: this is a way of saying that what follows is prohibited, that no Israelite is to do any of these things. See the similar warning in 12.30-31. Alternative translation models for There shall not be found … may be “Don’t…” or “You must not….”

One who burns his son or daughter as an offering: the meaning here is that the person offers his child as a sacrifice to a pagan god. The Revised Standard Version footnote gives the literal form of the Hebrew text, which some understand to mean a method of divination, of predicting the future. But this is highly doubtful, and it is recommended that the idea of sacrifice by fire be expressed. Good News Translation “Don’t sacrifice your children in the fire on your altars” is a good model.

There are four more forbidden practices in this verse, and an additional four in verse 11. Some of them seem to refer to the same thing, and today we do not know the precise distinction between the various terms—if such ever existed. Most of them have to do with the various means of predicting future events, and certain kinds of magic or witchcraft.

As usual the Handbook will cite Revised Standard Version terms and note different terms used in other translations. In this verse New Revised Standard Version and New Jerusalem Bible are exactly the same as Revised Standard Version. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh and Revised English Bible have “augur, soothsayer, diviner, sorcerer.”

Practice divination: this involves the use of supernatural powers to reveal the future.

Soothsayer: the verb means to foretell future events, to predict the future, whether or not by use of magic or spiritual powers.

Augur: this involves interpreting various signs and omens, such as the pattern of birds in flight, the disposition of sticks or arrows flung on the ground, or the examination of an animal’s entrails. New International Version translates “interprets omens.”

Sorcery: to gain control over someone through the help of spirits. New International Version has “engages in witchcraft.”

Some cultures may have all these practices, and translators can find precise terms to match the Hebrew. However, in other languages translators may need to follow Good News Translation and use three different terms, and not four, on the assumption that the Hebrew terms are so closely related that precise distinctions between the various activities are not possible.

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 .

New Revised Standard Version has the following: “casts spells … consults ghosts or spirits … seeks oracles from the dead.” Good News Translation uses two different terms to cover the four Hebrew words. New Revised Standard Version is a good model to follow.

A charmer: this activity means to cast a spell on a person, to “bewitch” that person. An alternative model is “one who sings his magic.” Many languages will have similar expressions for this type of person.

A medium: a person who is able to communicate with the spirit world, in particular, with the spirits of the dead.

Wizard: someone who practices magic. “Magic,” whether harmful or beneficial, occurs in most cultures, and there will be terms for it and the people who perform it. “Magic” may also be expressed as “secret [or, supernatural] powers,” so a wizard can be translated “one who has secret [or, supernatural] powers.”

Necromancer: someone who consults the dead. In many languages medium and necromancer will be combined; for example, “those who talk with spirits of the dead” (Contemporary English Version).

In a number of cultures there will be different terms for all eight types of people in verses 10 and 11. However, in those languages that do not have equivalents for all the types of forbidden practices, the model below, from Contemporary English Version, will be helpful. The underlying assumption is that all of them require magic or witchcraft, and they can be grouped into three basic types:

• … And don’t try to use any kind of magic or witchcraft to tell fortunes, or to cast spells, or to talk with spirits of the dead.

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 .

Is an abomination to the LORD: the LORD hates or detests people who indulge in those pagan practices. See 7.25.

Because of their abominable practices: that is, the things that the Canaanites do. For abominable practices see 7.26.

The LORD your God is driving them out before you: Good News Translation uniformly translates before you by “as you advance” (see 4.38; 7.1, 22; 8.20; 9.3; 11.23).

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 .

Blameless: the Hebrew word (used also in God’s command to Abraham in Gen 17.1) is understood in different ways. Some take it to mean “without moral fault” (see its use in Psa 18.23, 25). Many, like Good News Translation “Be completely faithful,” take it to indicate the degree of loyalty, or devotion, to God. So New Revised Standard Version has “remain completely loyal to the LORD your God,” Revised English Bible “undivided in your service of the LORD your God,” and New Jerusalem Bible “faultless in your relationship with the LORD your God.” (The Greek word used by the Septuagint to translate this Hebrew term appears in Matt 5.48.) It is recommended that the latter meaning be expressed in translation. So another way to render this verse is “Do everything that the LORD orders you to do.” However, in the context of avoiding the abominable practices (verse 13), we may also translate “Don’t ever do any of these disgusting [or, abominable] things.”

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 .