This sets the procedure to be followed if the dead man’s brother tells the town’s elders that he will not perform his duty.

In the presence of the elders: or “while the town leaders watch” (Contemporary English Version).

Pull his sandal off his foot: the symbolic meaning of this act is not clear. If we need to say which foot, we can say “his right foot.” See the procedure described in Ruth 4.7-9. The Hebrew sandal refers to footwear tied with straps.

Spit in his face: this, of course, is a highly insulting act.

Shall answer: this is a formal statement. In English it may be expressed as “shall declare” or “shall state.”

So shall it be done: this does not refer to some future happening; it is the public humiliating insult which has just been inflicted on the man. Other ways of expressing this are “This is what happens” (Good News Translation) or “That’s what happens” (Contemporary English Version).

The man who does not build up his brother’s house: here house means “family,” and the meaning is that, by refusing to produce a son for his brother, the man is allowing the brother’s family name to disappear. Both Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version are good models for translation.

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 repeats what is said in verse 9.

House again means “family.”

Shall be called in Israel: that is, “will be known from that time on among the people of Israel”; or we may say “the people of Israel will call his family….”

The house of him that had his sandal pulled off: or “the family of the man who had his sandal pulled off” (Good News Translation; similarly 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 .

You shall cut off her hand: the proper authorities are to make the decision. It is pointed out that only here (besides the “law of retaliation” ruling in 19.21) is mutilation prescribed as appropriate punishment.

Your eye shall have no pity: the same phrase used in 19.21.

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 .

This is the positive command that matches the negative commands in the previous verses. For buying and for selling, everyone should use the same set of accurate weights and measures, in conformity with the official standard.

Full and just: Revised English Bible has “true and correct,” Good News Translation “true and honest,” and Contemporary English Version “weigh and measure things honestly.”

That your days may be prolonged in the land: see 5.16; 22.6.

The land which the LORD your God gives you: 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 .

All who do such things, all who act dishonestly: the second clause refers to the same set of people as the first clause. The two may be brought together as follows: “all who do such dishonest things,” or “all who cheat or are dishonest.”

An abomination to the LORD your God: see 7.25; 18.12; 22.5.

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 .

He attacked you on the way: the Amalekites attacked the Israelites as they made their way from Egypt to the Promised Land. If a pronoun is used it should agree with the noun in the previous verse; note Good News Translation “They.”

You were faint and weary; or, as in Good News Translation, “tired and exhausted.” The long trek had left the Israelites weak and tired.

Cut off at your rear all who lagged behind you: the Amalekites attacked from the rear and killed the stragglers, who were unable to keep up with the main body of Israelites.

He did not fear God: they were a pagan people, without any concern for God. In many languages it will be helpful to put this clause at the beginning of the verse as follows: “they were not afraid of God, so they attacked…”; or if we keep the clause at the end of the verse, we may say “this showed that the Amalekites were not afraid of [or, did not respect] God.”

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 .

When the LORD your God has given you rest from all your enemies round about: see 3.20; 12.9.

The land which the LORD your God gives you for an inheritance to possess: for this oft-repeated statement see 3.18; 7.1. Here is one of the few passages where the two Hebrew words for “inherit” and “inheritance” are used (see the double use also in 15.4).

Blot out the remembrance of Amalek: see 9.14; 25.6. The meaning here is that the Amalekites are to be destroyed so completely that they will no longer be remembered. 1 Chr 4.43 tells of the destruction of the last surviving Amalekites by King Hezekiah of Judah (ruled 716–657 B.C.). Good News Translation has “be sure to kill all the Amalekites, so that no one will remember them any longer,” or “… so completely that no one will remember they ever lived” (Contemporary English Version).

From under heaven: this is simply a way of saying “in the whole world.”

You shall not forget: this is more in the nature of a command than a statement. We may say “Do not forget!” (Good News Translation) or “Remember 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 .

With the beginning of a new chapter and section, Moses should be reintroduced as the speaker.

The land which the LORD your God gives you for an inheritance and have taken possession of it: for the double use of inheritance and take possession, see 3.18 and 25.19.

And live in it: this refers to a time when the Israelites have settled down and have had time to grow their first crops.

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 .