Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 22:30

In the Hebrew text this verse is 23.1, which means that the verse numbers of chapter 23 in Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation are one ahead of the numbers in the Hebrew text. The Hebrew chapter and verse numbers will be written within square brackets as a reminder to those who need to use this system.

For this case see 27.20; Lev 18.7-8; 20.11.

His father’s wife: not his mother, but his stepmother, most likely one of his father’s several wives.

Uncover her who is his father’s: this translates the Hebrew “uncover his father’s skirt,” meaning to invade the privacy of the father’s marriage. “To cover with the skirt” means to get married (Ruth 3.9; Ezek 16.8). This is not in addition to the first rule, as Revised Standard Version nor suggests; rather it is an explanation of it, as Good News Translation renders it. See also New Revised Standard Version: “A man shall not marry his father’s wife, thereby violating his father’s rights.” Good News Translation is a good alternative model for the verse.

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 23:3

Ammonite … Moabite: these two peoples were said to be descendants of the two sons produced by the incestuous union between Lot and his two daughters. “Moab” was the son of the older daughter and “Benammi” the son of the younger daughter (Gen 19.30-38). It is not certain, however, that this regulation reflects that story. In a number of languages No Ammonite or Moabite will be expressed as “No person from the nation of Ammon or of Moab.”

The tenth generation … for ever: this seems to indicate that “to the tenth generation” means for all time to come.

None belonging to them means “none of their descendants” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version).

Shall enter the assembly of the LORD: see verse 1.

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 23:4

This verse gives two reasons for excluding Moabites and Ammonites from the assembly of the LORD (see the reference to this in Neh 13.1-2): (1) They did not supply the Israelites with provisions as they were on their way from Egypt to Canaan. Nothing is said about this in the account in Num 21–22; and in Deut 2.9, 19 the Israelites are given orders not to harass the Moabites or Ammonites. (2) They hired Balaam to put a curse on the Israelites. For this story see Num 22.4–24.25.

They hired Balaam: or “they paid money to Balaam.”

Pethor of Mesopotamia: that is, the city of Pethor in the country, or region, of Mesopotamia (“between the rivers” Tigris and Euphrates).

To curse you means “to speak evil [or, hurting] words against you.” See also 11.26.

An alternative translation model for this verse is:

• This is because, when you came out of Egypt, they refused to provide you with food and water. They also hired Balaam son of Beor, from the city of Pethor in the region of Mesopotamia, to put a curse on 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 .

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 23:5

For this action see Num 23.7–24.9. It is noteworthy that in this short verse the full title the LORD your God is used three times.

Turned the curse into a blessing for you: this may be expressed as “instead of cursing you, the LORD blessed you” or “instead of letting evil [or, hurtful] things happen to you, the LORD caused you to become prosperous.”

It will be helpful in some languages to put the final clause first, as follows:

• But Yahweh your [plural] God [or, the God you serve] loves you, so he would not listen to Balaam. Instead of letting evil things happen to you, he caused you to become prosperous.

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 23:6

The Revised Standard Version literal rendition of the Hebrew makes for a poor English sentence. The meaning is that the Israelites should never do anything, for all time to come, to contribute to the welfare and prosperity of the Ammonites and Moabites. So Good News Translation has “As long as you are a nation, never do anything….”

Their peace or their prosperity: the two nouns mean the same; peace stands here for welfare in general. Traduction œcuménique de la Bible translates “prosperity or welfare,” while New Revised Standard Version has “welfare or prosperity.” The Contemporary English Version rendering “Don’t even think of signing a peace treaty with” is too limited. Good News Translation is better, with “never do anything to help these nations or to make them prosperous.”

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 23:7

Abhor: this verb is related to the noun which in 22.5 is translated “abomination” (see the verb and the noun in 7.25-26). Good News Translation has “Do not despise.” We may also say “Do not look down on [or, treat with contempt].” Contemporary English Version has the positive command, “You must be kind to….”

An Edomite … is your brother: the Edomites were descended from Esau, also called Edom (Gen 36.1), the brother of Jacob, who was the ancestor of the Israelites. Brother here means “relative.” In most languages “they are your relatives” (Good News Translation) will be natural style.

An Egyptian, because you were a sojourner in his land: until the time of Moses, when the ruling king made them do hard labor, the Israelites were resident aliens in Egypt and were well treated. The Contemporary English Version translation “you lived as foreigners in the country of Egypt” is a helpful model.

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 23:8

The children of the third generation: this means the children who belong to the third generation. These are the grandchildren of any Edomite or Egyptian living in the land of Israel. So we may translate “and let their grandchildren be included….” The rendering “great-grandchildren” (Contemporary English Version) is not followed by other interpreters.

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 23:10

Is not clean: this does not refer to being physically unclean but to ritual impurity, which would prevent the Israelite man from fulfilling his duties as a member of “the assembly of the LORD.” In languages where the idea of ritual impurity will be difficult to express, we may say something like “he is unfit to worship [or, have fellowship with] Yahweh.” Contemporary English Version has a similar rendering: “makes a man unclean and unfit for worship.”

By reason of what chances to him by night: this refers to “a wet dream,” that is, an emission of semen (New Revised Standard Version “a nocturnal emission”). This is dealt with also in Lev 15.16-17. Every language has its own way of referring to this; but translators should be careful not to use language that is offensive to the reader or hearer.

He shall go outside the camp, he shall not come within the camp: that is, “He must leave the camp and stay away from it the whole day” (as the next verse makes clear).

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 .