So Israel dwelt in safety: it may be better to use the present tense. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, for example, says “Thus Israel dwells in safety” (see also Good News Translation).

The fountain of Jacob: Israel and Jacob are parallel and refer to the same group. But the Hebrew word translated fountain is written the same as one meaning “abode” (see Isa 13.22), and New Revised Standard Version, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, and Revised English Bible make the change: “Untroubled is Jacob’s abode.” It is recommended that this be followed. Should the translator decide to stay with the Hebrew text, fountain is a figure of speech meaning “descendants” (Good News Translation).

Alone: here this means “undisturbed,” not bothered or threatened by anyone, since the Israelites had expelled all the inhabitants of Canaan.

A land of grain and wine: this speaks of bumper crops of wheat and barley, and productive vineyards. So Contemporary English Version has “and you will have plenty of grain and wine.”

His heavens drop down dew: the verb occurs only here and at 32.2. It may be better to say “the heavens” (so New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, New Revised Standard Version, New International Version and others), or “sky” (Good News Translation, 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 .