When evening comes on: that is, “in the late afternoon,” “before sunset.”

When the sun is down: meaning after sunset, when the next day begins, according to the Hebrew reckoning.

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 .

Verses 12-14 deal with defecating (going to the latrine, or toilet) while in camp.

The Hebrew text does not state the purpose for which the encamped Israelites are to have a place outside the camp. It is only understood from the context; and it may be necessary to say something like Good News Translation, “where you can go when you need to relieve yourselves,” or New International Version “where you can go to relieve yourself.”

You shall have a place outside the camp: this means to choose a place or “designate a place” (New International Version). The Contemporary English Version translation “Set up a place outside the camp to be used as a toilet area” is acceptable. Some languages have euphemisms, which are not offensive; Portuguese, for example, says fazer necessidade (“to do what is necessary,” so BÍBLIA para todos Edição Comum, Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje). In languages where direct reference to defecation or urination is not offensive, we may say “designate a place outside the camp where people may go to defecate or urinate.”

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 instructions are clear, the vocabulary is simple.

A stick: the Hebrew word is used in this sense only here; elsewhere it means a pin or a tentpeg. For this kind of task a stick would be used. New International Version “something to dig with” is satisfactory.

Your weapons: or, more generally, “your equipment” (Good News Translation, New International Version, Revised English Bible); New Revised Standard Version has “your utensils.” New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh “gear” is the proper military term in English.

You sit down … dig a hole … turn back and cover up your excrement: in the nature of the case, first the man would dig a hole and then squat over it and relieve himself, after which he would cover up the excrement.

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 verse gives the reason for the instructions in the previous two verses: the uncovered excrement would defile the camp, which was a holy place because of the presence of Yahweh.

The LORD your God walks in the midst of the camp: if possible this vivid language should be retained in translation. If this is not possible we may say “the LORD your God is with you” (Good News Translation) or “the LORD is always present” (Contemporary English Version).

To save you: that is, from the enemy; Good News Translation “protect” is better in this context.

To give up your enemies before you: this means to give the Israelites victory over their enemies (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version).

Your camp must be holy: Good News Translation has “ritually clean,” but in this case it seems advisable to retain a word for holy, whose primary meaning is “completely dedicated to the service of God.” In some instances an explanatory footnote to the word may be helpful.

Anything indecent: the same word is used in 24.1. Here it means “offensive to God” (Revised English Bible); New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh “unseemly” and Bible en français courant “repugnant” are not quite as good. Contemporary English Version has “filthy and disgusting things.”

And turn away from you means “turn around and leave you,” “turn his back on you” (Good News Translation), or even “abandon 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 .

He shall dwell: this verse repeats in a positive way the negative command of the previous verse. But the whole statement is quite wordy, and a translation may choose to abbreviate it somewhat. Good News Translation, however, seems too brief.

You shall not oppress him: the verb means “to treat harshly,” “to mistreat,” “to be cruel to.”

The first part of this verse may be alternatively rendered as “Instead, you must let him choose which one of your towns he wants to live in….”

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 .

To a foreigner: interest could be charged on loans made to non-Israelites, (and they did not have to be released from debt in the seventh year; see 15.3). The interest was paid in advance of the loan.

That the LORD your God may bless you in all you undertake: see 12.7 and 15.10.

The land which you are entering to take possession of it: see 7.1.

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 .

What has passed your lips … what you have promised with your mouth: this repetition, as elsewhere, is for emphasis.

You have voluntarily vowed to the LORD your God: there was no obligation. The person who made the promise was not forced to do it. An alternative model may be “the LORD didn’t force you to make a promise.”

For the whole verse, many translators will find the Good News Translation model simpler than Revised Standard Version, which follows the Hebrew structure.

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 .

Go into your neighbor’s standing grain: there were paths that led through the grainfields. So Good News Translation has “when you walk along a path in someone else’s grainfield.” Instead of standing grain Good News Translation and New International Version have “grainfield.” The grain could be wheat or barley; Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje gives this information in the text.

Pluck the ears with your hands: that is, pluck and eat them. This is what Jesus’ disciples did (Mark 2.23).

Put a sickle to your neighbor’s standing grain: they were not to cut the heads of grain and take them home. In cultures where sickles are not known, we may use a general translation as follows: “But don’t cut down the stalks of grain and take them with you” (Contemporary English Version).

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 .