Good things: in the nature of the case, these are family possessions, furniture, tools, food, cooking utensils, and perhaps animals.

Which you did not fill means “which you did not put in them” (Contemporary English Version).

Cisterns hewn out, which you did not hew: it is not clear whether the Hebrew word here means “cisterns” or “wells” (see Pro 5.15, where the two are parallel in meaning). Cisterns are cavities, hollow places, or pits hewn (cut) out of rock, to collect rainwater; new techniques were developed, perhaps during the time the Israelites invaded Canaan, of plastering the sides of the bell-shaped holes in the rock, to make them watertight. The porous limestone of the country was not ideal for cisterns. But the word may mean “wells,” which are holes dug to find underground water. A translator should feel free to use the word most easily understood by readers of the language.

Vineyards and olive orchards refer to pieces of land set aside for growing grapes or olives. In cultures where grapes or olives are unknown, we may borrow terms from the prestige language in the area, and for this first occurrence of the terms in Deuteronomy say something like “a garden for growing fruit called ‘grape [or, olive].’ ” It will also be helpful to have a description of these fruits in a footnote or in the Glossary.

When you eat and are full: this refers to having enough food stored up to keep from going hungry. An alternative model may be “But when you have enough food to satisfy your hunger….”

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 .