As at the beginning of other sections, it will be helpful to start this section with something like “Moses said to the people of Israel.”

The Hebrew sentence extends into the next verse, and in many instances it will have to be divided into two or more sentences. These are instructions on how the people are to proceed, should the time come when they want a king. So Bible en français courant has “Perhaps you will want to have a king….”

Come to the land … possess it and dwell in it: these are three distinct stages in the process of crossing the Jordan River, conquering the land, and settling down in the Canaanite towns and villages.

The land which the LORD your God gives you: everything the Israelites do is a consequence of God’s action. This is the note that is always struck. They are constantly reminded of the fact that the land of Canaan is God’s gift to them.

And then say, ‘I will set a king…’: if the direct quotation is awkward or unnatural in a given language, it may be better to go to indirect discourse, “and then you decide that you want a king to rule you” (see Good News Translation). For king see 1.4.

As always, the Hebrew text for you and I is singular for both pronouns; the people are addressed as though they were an individual. It will be necessary in most cases to use the plural: “say, ‘We want a king’ ” (if direct discourse is used), or “decide that you [plural] want a king” (if indirect discourse is preferred).

I will set a king over me: the verb set means “to place”; in this context “to choose” seems better than “to appoint” (New Jerusalem Bible, Revised English Bible). Or else we may say “You will want to have a king to rule over you” (Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje, BÍBLIA para todos Edição Comum), or, more simply, “you will want to have a king” (Bible en français courant).

All the nations that are round about me: this is more simply and clearly expressed as “all the surrounding [or, neighboring] nations.”

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 .