This is the first case dealing with adultery. Both the man and the woman are to be put to death, presumably by stoning (as in verses 21 and 24).

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

Lying with the wife of another man means “having intercourse with [or, sleeping with] the wife of….”

For purge the evil, see 13.5; 19.13.

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 .