Carry much seed into the field: that is, sow much seed in their fields.

Shall gather little in: meaning that they will “reap only a small harvest” (Good News Translation; similarly Contemporary English Version), or “they will reap very little grain.”

The locust: that is, “locusts”; see Exo 10.1-20 for the plague of locusts in Egypt. The locust here was the desert type of winged hopping insect that swarmed in the air. Locusts destroy all plant life when they move in large swarms. It may be helpful for translators to include a picture of this insect.

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 .

Then all of you came near me: or, “Then all of you came to me” (Contemporary English Version). Instead of the word Then, The New English Bible [New English Bible], Revised English Bible, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch begin with “But,” which better suits the context. Instead of immediately obeying the order to invade the land and take possession of it, the Israelites propose a delaying course of action; this may be seen as the first indication of their lack of faith.

Let us send men before us: in Num 13.1-2 it is God who orders that the twelve spies be sent out. Contemporary English Version prefaces this sentence with “Before we go into the land, let’s send….” This may be helpful.

That they may explore the land for us, and bring us word again: New Revised Standard Version “bring back a report to us” is an improvement over the literal rendering “bring us word again.” A simpler way of expressing this is “and can tell us about….”

Of the way by which we must go up: the purpose of the spies’ exploration of the land would be to decide which would be the best route to take in their invasion of the land, and to find out how strong and heavily defended were the cities that they would have to conquer. Again, go up does not necessarily mean to go to a higher elevation (see verse 21).

The cities into which …: in today’s world cities are usually much larger than most of the communities named in the Bible, and “towns” (Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible) is a more accurate term. For a comment on the translation of “towns,” see verse 1.

Into which we shall come: the translator must be aware of the point of view of the narrative. As they attacked the cities, the Israelites were “going” into them; from the point of view of the cities they would be “coming” into them. In most languages “going” will be the more natural point of view. However, in certain languages all directional information depends on where the speaker is located. In such a case translators should generally place the writer of Deuteronomy in the area of Canaan.

Contemporary English Version has a helpful alternative model for this verse:

• Then all of you came to me and said, “Before we go into the land, let’s send some men to explore it. When they come back, they can tell us about the towns we will find and what roads we should take to get there.”

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 .

Pass over the boundary of Moab at Ar: the word translated boundary can also mean the region itself, and not only its frontier. Good News Translation is clearer with “Today you are to pass through,” which can be followed as a good model for this verse. Ar is a city some 25 kilometers (15 miles) east of the southern end of the Dead Sea (see map, page xi).

Alternative translation models for this verse are:

• Today you must travel through the territory of Moab near the city of Ar.

• Today you must go past the city of Ar and cross Moab’s northern border.

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 fighting men were to leave their families and cattle behind on the east side of the Jordan.

Your cattle (I know you have many cattle): Bashan was known for its fine cattle. For a comment on cattle or “livestock,” see 2.35.

It is possible to combine verses 18 and 19 as follows:

• At the same time I told the men from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh: “The LORD our [inclusive] God has let you occupy this land east of the Jordan river. Your wives and children can stay here with the large herds of cattle I know you have. Now give weapons to all your soldiers, and they must cross the Jordan river ahead of the soldiers from the other tribes of Israel, to help them occupy their land.

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 call heaven and earth to witness against you this day: the punishment that Moses is about to describe is so severe that he calls the whole universe to listen to what he is about to say. Among other peoples at that time it was common to call upon the gods to witness to what someone was about to say or do; here the whole world, as God’s creation, is to be witness. There is hardly any alternative to using the biblical phrase heaven and earth or else “universe,” “the whole world”; but it should not convey the idea that Moses is calling on all the inhabitants of the Earth to pay attention to what he is about to say, so as to serve as witnesses against the people of Israel. To witness against you today may also be expressed as “to take notice of what you are doing today.” In some languages it will be necessary to supply the content of “what you are doing” as Good News Translation does (“if you disobey me”), or else say “Today I am asking heaven and earth to watch what you do. If you ever make idols….”

The two statements you will soon utterly perish and you … will be utterly destroyed sound like Moses is forecasting total annihilation of the Israelites, leaving no survivors. But as the next verse shows, this is typical exaggeration (hyperbole) and means that many will lose their lives. In languages that do not use the passive voice, we may say “I will cause you all to die”; it is not necessarily God himself who does the destroying.

The land you are going over the Jordan to possess: see verse 22.

You will not live long upon it: the next verse makes it clear that Moses is talking about their deportation or exile to a foreign country, after being conquered by enemy forces.

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 commandment is given emphasis by the reminder that the Israelites had been slaves in Egypt, where they got no day of rest. The sabbath commemorates freedom from forced labor; they are now not forced to work, but commanded to rest. The first part of the verse may be alternatively translated as “This day of rest will remind you that you did hard labor in Egypt, and that I, Yahweh, the God you worship….”

Brought you out thence with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm: see 4.34. The Good News Translation model “rescued you by my great power and strength” will be helpful for many translators. However, “used my great power and strength to rescue you” is also possible.

Therefore the LORD your God commanded you to keep the sabbath day will sound unnatural in some languages. Another model is “That is why I, Yahweh, command you to observe the sabbath [or, special day of rest].”

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 .

You shall diligently keep means to obey strictly (see also 4.2; 5.32). An alternative model, slightly changing Good News Translation, is the following: “Be sure that you always obey all the laws.”

For commandments see 4.2; testimonies, 4.45; statutes, 4.1.

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 .

With the beginning of a new chapter and a new section, translators may need to indicate that Moses is still speaking to the people of Israel. The second person singular of address is used in the Hebrew text, but many translators will prefer to use the plural form.

All the commandment: see 6.25. This includes all the laws. For commandment see 4.2.

Be careful to do: that is, “Do your best to obey,” “Obey faithfully” (Good News Translation), or “Be sure that you obey” (Contemporary English Version).

Live and multiply: this means to continue living in the land and to increase in number (see 7.13).

Swore to give to your fathers: see 1.8.

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 .