They would turn away your sons from following me: the reason for the ban on intermarrying with these pagans is that the Israelite husband would be led by his pagan wife and her family to worship their god, thus forsaking Yahweh. To “follow” means to worship and to be faithful to. Since verse 3 refers to both sons and daughters, an alternative model is “If you do, these people will lead your children away from the LORD to worship…” (similarly Good News Translation).

From following me: even though the text does not indicate that this is a quotation of Yahweh’s words, me is not Moses here, but Yahweh (see Good News Translation).

To serve other gods: in this context it means not only worship but also obedience to the laws and rules of the pagan religion. So it may be expressed as “worship and serve other gods.” For gods see 3.24.

The anger of the LORD would be kindled against you: see 6.15.

Destroy: this translates a verb different from the one in 6.15 and the one in 7.10; but the meaning is the same. The Septuagint uses the same Greek verb to translate all three different Hebrew verbs.

Quickly: God would destroy them at once, without delay.

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 .

Lest refers back to “Take heed lest…” at the beginning of verse 11, and also connects with the beginning of verse 14 “… then your hearts be lifted up.” This calls for restructuring, and translations such as Good News Translation, Bible en français courant, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, and Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje can serve as good models. Good News Translation, for example, doesn’t use the archaic lest but begins verse 14 with “be sure,” echoing “Make certain” at the beginning of verse 11. See the alternative model at the end of verse 14.

When you have eaten points forward to the clause “then your heart be lifted up” (beginning of verse 14). For eaten and are full Good News Translation has “You have all you want to eat,” and Contemporary English Version has “have plenty to eat.”

Goodly houses: “fine houses” (New Revised Standard Version) is today’s English; “beautiful” or “magnificent” are other possibilities.

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 .

I will write: see 5.22.

The words that were on the first tables: the words are the ten commandments (see verse 4), as they were on the earlier occasion (see 9.10). However, translators are urged to use a more general translation here, such as “the same words” (Contemporary English Version), or “what I wrote” (Good News Translation).

Which you broke: see 9.17.

Put them in the ark: “put them in the Box” (Good News Translation), or “put these stones in the chest” (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 .

The first part of verse 18 is similar to 6.6; the second part is exactly the same as 6.8.

Lay up … in your heart and in your soul: this includes both the mind and the feelings; so Good News Translation says “Remember these commands and cherish them.” Contemporary English Version has “Memorize these laws and think about them.”

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 .

Since, in the enlarged territory, some Israelites would be living a great distance from the one place of worship, permission is given them to eat at home. This repeats essentially verse 15.

The place … put his name there: see verses 5, 11.

Any of your herd or your flock: that is, “any of your cattle or sheep” (see Good News Translation). God has given these animals to the Israelites (see verse 15).

As I have commanded you: Moses is the speaker, and he is setting forth these rules and regulations.

You may eat within your towns as much as you desire: as in verse 15.

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 .

Swine: or, more familiarly, “pigs.” See also Lev 11.7; Pro 11.27; Isa 65.4; 66.3, 17 (also in the New Testament).

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 .

Instructions are given on how to celebrate Passover.

The passover sacrifice: that is, the animal offered in sacrifice, to celebrate the Passover Festival. For alternative ways to translate passover, see the previous verse.

From the flock or the herd: see 15.19.

The place which the LORD will choose, to make his name dwell there: see 12.5; 14.23. Originally Passover was a family festival, celebrated in the home.

An alternative translation model for this verse is:

• Go to the one place where Yahweh your [or, inclusive “our”] God chooses for you to worship him, and slaughter there one of your sheep or cattle while you are celebrating the Passover Festival. In this way you will honor Yahweh.

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 .

The first fruits of your grain, and of your wine and of your oil refers to the “first share” (Good News Translation), or “first part” (Contemporary English Version), of the grain harvest and the other products. See the same agricultural products in 7.13.

The first of the fleece of your sheep: this is the only place where the wool from the first shearing of the sheep is included as part of the priests’ dues. In some languages this will be rendered as “the first part of the hair that you cut from your sheep.”

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 .