Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 17:4

It is told you and you hear of it: this may be a typical double way of saying one thing (so New International Version “this has been brought to your attention”; New Jerusalem Bible “and this person is denounced to you”; also Bible en français courant; and see Good News Translation). Some take it as an either-or proposition (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible), but this does not seem very likely.

You shall inquire diligently: or “make a thorough investigation.” New International Version has “you must investigate it thoroughly”; and see Good News Translation. Contemporary English Version has “You must carefully find out if….” See the same kind of language in 13.14.

An abominable thing: see verse 1; 13.14.

Has been done in Israel: it may be that Israel here is not the country as such but a way of speaking of the people. But most take it as the country itself.

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 .

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 19:4

The provision: the same noun is used at the beginning of 15.2. It indicates what is to be done. So we may translate “This is what you must do [or, This is the rule] in the case of someone who….”

The manslayer, who by fleeing there may save his life: this is rather complex. New International Version has “This is the rule concerning the man who kills another and flees there to save his life,” and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh “Here is an example of how someone may save his life by fleeing to them.” Another possibility is “This is the rule about a person who kills another person and flees to one of these towns in order to save his [or her] life.” What follows deals with the case of the person who is legally allowed to flee to one of these towns and thus avoid being killed.

If any one kills his neighbor unintentionally: here neighbor means simply “another person” (New Revised Standard Version), or, more precisely, a fellow-Israelite; it does not indicate someone who lives next door. The Hebrew verb is literally “to strike” or “to hit,” here meaning to kill.

Unintentionally: that is, accidentally, without meaning to.

Without having been at enmity with him in the past: this is stated in order to further remove the possibility of murder.

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 .

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 20:17 - 20:18

You shall utterly destroy them: the Hebrew is emphatic, using the expression which is literally “destroying, you shall destroy them.” See 2.34.

For the list of the peoples living in Canaan, see 7.1, where seven groups are listed (here the “Girgashites” are not included).

The single sentence of verses 17 and 18 may be too long. It may be a good idea to begin a new sentence at verse 18, as Good News Translation does, by repeating the verb of the previous verse: “Kill them so that…” or “If you allow them to live [or, don’t kill them], they will cause you to….”

As the LORD your God has commanded: see 9.3.

They may not teach you … their abominable practices: see the same reason in 7.25; 8.18-19; 18.9.

In the service of their gods: the Hebrew is simply “for their gods,” meaning “in the worship of their gods” (Good News Translation).

And so to sin: it should be clear that the subject here is the Israelites, not the Canaanites: “And so you will sin against the LORD your God.” Here, not as elsewhere, your is plural, not singular.

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 .

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 22:12

For a fuller statement of this law, see Num 15.37-41. A tassel is an ornament made of threads or cords bound at one end.

The cloak was the long outer garment.

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 .

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 24:2

And if she goes and becomes another man’s wife: the text does not say how this happened. It only states that it has happened: “and gets married again.” In certain languages this will be stated as “If some other man takes her as his wife.”

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 .

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 26:11

You shall rejoice … you, and the Levite, and the sojourner who is among you: this appears to suggest a festive meal in the sanctuary (see 12.18; 14.23). Contemporary English Version makes this clear, with “Then you and your family must celebrate by eating a meal at the place of worship to thank the LORD your God for giving you such a good harvest.”

The Levite: rather “the Levites.” For a comment on Levite see 12.12.

The sojourner: see 1.16.

Among you is an impossible phrase in English, since you is singular, referring to the man who is making the offering. It means, of course, “[the resident aliens] who live in your [plural] towns, villages, or communities.”

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 .

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 28:2

All these blessings: in this context a blessing is something good that is given by God. So we may also translate as “Yahweh your God will give you all these good things.”

Come upon you and overtake you: this vivid language portrays the blessings as living and active; for the second verb New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh has “and take effect,” and Revised English Bible “and light on you.” Perhaps something like “come and remain with you” or “will always be yours” will be satisfactory in many languages. The first sentence may then be expressed as “Yahweh your God will give you all these good things, and they will always be yours.”

If you obey: it may be better to place this clause at the beginning of the verse, as Good News Translation does, or even combine the two instances of if you obey in verses 1 and 2 as follows:

• Moses said to the people of Israel: “Today I am giving you the commands of Yahweh, the God you worship. If you completely obey them, he will make you greater than any of the other nations on earth. He will also give you all these good things, and they will always be yours.

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 .

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 28:45

This verse is a summarizing statement; see verse 15.

All these curses: this refers to all the disasters foretold in verses 15-44.

Shall come upon you … pursue … overtake: again the use of vivid language, portraying these disasters as wild animals or merciless enemies.

Till you are destroyed: in the context, this is total destruction, extinction of the Israelites as a people.

Did not obey the voice of the LORD your God: see verse 1.

His commandments and his statutes: see 4.1-2. This clause and the previous one may be placed at the beginning of the verse, as follows:

• Moses said to the Israelites: “If you [plural] don’t obey the laws and teachings that the LORD your God is giving you, he will send all these disasters on you. They will follow you until they completely destroy you.

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 .