With the beginning of this new section, translators are urged to reintroduce Moses as the speaker.

This verse is very similar to 17.6.

Any crime or … any wrong … any offense that he has committed: this is somewhat wordy. After the first noun in Hebrew (translated crime), the next two are closely related forms of the same noun, usually translated “sin,” followed by the verb “to sin.” New International Version is a good model to follow: “any crime or offense he may have committed.”

In connection with: in English at least, this is a rather wordy and an unnecessary way of stating the matter. New International Version‘s English is much more natural and meaningful, as seen in the previous comment.

For of two witnesses, or of three, see 17.6. The meaning is the same: “at least two witnesses,” or “two or more witnesses.”

Shall a charge be sustained: that is, an accusation will be upheld, be judged to be true.

An alternative translation model for this verse is:
• Before you convict a person of a crime, at least two witnesses must be able to testify that the person did it [or, is guilty].

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 LORD your God has multiplied you: in some languages “your God” will mistakenly mean that the LORD is not the God of Moses, but only of the people he is addressing. Of course this is not what the text is implying. Rather your God emphasizes that Yahweh is the God of the Hebrews, and they must always be aware of that central fact of their existence as a people. So your God or its equivalent should be used whenever possible. This will occur frequently in this book. In some cases we may have to say, for example, “the LORD our God” (Contemporary English Version) or “Yahweh, the God [whom] we worship.” The verb “multiply” means, of course, to increase in numbers by making them a fertile people who had many children (descendants). New Jerusalem Bible has “increased your numbers.” In certain languages we may express this as “The LORD, the God whom you [plural] worship, has caused you to have so many children and grandchildren that there are as many of you as….”

Behold: this translates a different Hebrew word from the one used in verse 8, but the meaning is the same. In some languages an attention-getting marker will be appropriate here (see the discussion at 1.8), but in most languages this word will not need to be translated, as it will sound unnatural (compare Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version). Or we may say “… and so you are now as numerous….”

As the stars of heaven for multitude: New Revised Standard Version is more natural in English, “as numerous as the stars of heaven.” Where there are two words, as in English, for “heaven” and “sky,” here the word to be used should be “sky.” If it should happen that the phrase “stars in the sky” sounds ridiculous (where else are there stars?), “in the sky” may be omitted.

The whole statement may be translated:

• The LORD our God [or, The God whom we worship] has given you so many children [or, descendants], that now there are as many of you as there are stars [in the sky].

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 Israelites are neither to antagonize the Edomites nor ask for their help.

Purchase food … for money … buy water … for money: the equivalent of this statement in natural English is given by Good News Translation, where the common verb “buy” is used of the food and the water; most translations use two verbs, “to purchase” and “to buy,” but this is not necessary if a single verb will be good style. The use in English of for money is unnecessarily repetitive, but in some languages this repetition may be quite natural and should be retained.

It will be helpful for many translators to express this verse as follows:

• As you walk through their land, you may buy food and water.

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 .

This verse summarizes the two campaigns against Sihon and Og.

The Amorites is the general term used of the inhabitants of the land. See 1.27.

Beyond the Jordan: that is, on the east side of the river, the other side from the point of view of the writer in Israel.

The valley of the Arnon: see 2.24.

Mount Hermon: at the northern end of the land, near the Syrian border.

Contemporary English Version has a helpful model for this verse:

• Sihon and Og had ruled Amorite kingdoms east of the Jordan River. Their land stretched from the Arnon gorge in the south to Mount Hermon in the north, and we captured it all.

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 .

All the words and phrases of this verse have been dealt with in 4.1, 5. The only difference here is the use of the verb “go over” (instead of “go in”). This means crossing the Jordan River into the land of Canaan. Contemporary English Version brings this out with “the land that you will conquer west of the Jordan River.”

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 .

While I stood between the LORD and you: Moses was the spokesman, the mediator who transmitted Yahweh’s message to the people. As commentators point out, this differs from what is said in the previous verse (and see verse 22 also). New Revised Standard Version places this verse within parentheses, but it is uncertain what readers will understand this device to mean, and translators are discouraged from doing this.

To declare to you the word of the LORD: this does not mean a single “word” but refers to Yahweh’s message, the “ten words” of the covenant in particular. New Jerusalem Bible translates, “to let you know what Yahweh was saying.”

You were afraid because of the fire, and you did not go up: this may be expressed as “the fire [on the mountain] made you afraid to go up….” See Exo 24.1-2. For afraid see 1.21, 29. Good News Translation has a good model and translators are urged to follow it.

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 .

These words which I command you this day: Moses is talking about the laws that, on that day, he is ordering the Israelites to obey. In verses 6-9 the second person “you” and “your” are singular in the Hebrew text; the people are addressed as a whole, and every individual is included. However, in some languages the plural will be more natural style.

Shall be upon your heart: in Hebrew thought the heart was the center of thought, of intellectual activity, as was noted under verse 5 and 4.29. This command means they are to remember and never forget these commandments. Revised English Bible has “are to be remembered and taken to heart”; New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh translates “take to heart.” Another model is “Memorize these laws that I am giving you today.”

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 .

Verses 17-19 are one long sentence, which should be broken up into shorter ones, as Good News Translation does.

Besides Good News Translation, Revised English Bible offers a good model for verse 17: “You may say to yourselves, ‘These nations outnumber us; how can we drive them out?’ ”

If you say in your heart: that is, “say to yourself” or “think.” Hebrew here is singular, but most languages will use plural, referring to all the people. Other ways to express this are “Do not tell yourselves” (Good News Translation), or “You may be thinking … But stop worrying!” (Contemporary English Version).

Greater than I: this means more numerous, more powerful (see 1.28).

Dispossess: this means to expel or drive out.

Contemporary English Version has a helpful model for this verse:

• You may be thinking, “How can we destroy these nations? They are more powerful than we are.” But stop worrying!

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 .