Anything that dies of itself: the reason for this law, forbidding the eating of any animal that “dies a natural death” (Good News Translation), is that the animal’s blood had not been properly drained out, so that anyone who ate such an animal would be eating blood, which was strictly forbidden (see 12.15, 22-27; Exo 22.31). Such an animal was ritually unclean.

In this case, however, the dead animal could be eaten by the alien who is within your towns, that is, a foreigner who lived permanently among the Israelites (see 1.16). Or it could be sold to a foreigner, that is, some foreigner who might be traveling through the Israelite community. Contemporary English Version expresses this quite clearly with “You may give it to foreigners who live in your town, or sell it to foreigners who are visiting your town.”

A people holy to the LORD your God: see 7.6; 14.2.

You shall not boil a kid in its mother’s milk: for this law see also Exo 23.19; 34.26. Here a kid is the young either of a sheep or a goat; consequently Good News Translation has “a young sheep or goat.” It is thought by some that this was a Canaanite custom and thus abhorrent to the Israelites; but the evidence for such a Canaanite rite is far from conclusive.

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 Levite who spends some time at the sanctuary is to receive the same as his fellow Levites.

Besides what he receives from the sale of his patrimony: the exact meaning of this clause is not altogether clear. Most translations agree with Revised Standard Version, and Revised English Bible phrases it nicely: “besides what he may inherit from his father’s family.” New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh “without regard to personal gifts or patrimonies” is a bit technical; New International Version is more natural: “received money from the sale of family possessions” (similarly Contemporary English Version). What is involved here is not land, that is, real estate, since the Levites had no land, but houses and other belongings.

An alternative translation model for this verse is:

• He is to receive the same amount of food as the other priests and may keep whatever money his family sends him from the sale of their possessions.

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 priest exhorts the Israelites not to be afraid.

Hear, O Israel: as in 6.3 and 4.

To battle against your enemies: that is, “to fight your enemies” (as in verse 1).

Let not your heart faint, do not fear, or tremble, or be in dread: the exhortation is quite wordy, with four different expressions for not to be afraid. This repetition is for emphasis. Translators should not feel compelled to find four different expressions, if this turns out to be unnatural in their language; Good News Translation reduces the four expressions to three. In most languages there are good idiomatic expressions for fear and panic, and translators should make use of them; for example, “heart falls,” “heart turns over [or, flops],” or “have a swollen heart.” For be in dread of them, see 1.29.

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 .

Take hold of: this does not necessarily mean to conduct him as a prisoner to the place of judgment, but simply to take him there (Good News Translation “take him before”).

The elders of his city: see verse 6. As in other passages in Deuteronomy, city should be “town” (see 1.1, 28).

At the gate of the place where he lives: this refers to the open space in the town, near the gate in the town wall, where legal and commercial matters were settled (see 22.15; 25.7; Ruth 4.1-2, 15; Amos 5.10, 12, 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 .

This is the positive command that matches the negative commands in the previous verses. For buying and for selling, everyone should use the same set of accurate weights and measures, in conformity with the official standard.

Full and just: Revised English Bible has “true and correct,” Good News Translation “true and honest,” and Contemporary English Version “weigh and measure things honestly.”

That your days may be prolonged in the land: see 5.16; 22.6.

The land which the LORD your God gives you: see 7.1.

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 .

The Levites: see 12.12. These are the men from the tribe of Levi who served in the tabernacle, not the whole tribe of Levi.

All the men of Israel: the Septuagint has “all Israel,” and New Revised Standard Version translates “all the Israelites.” Contemporary English Version has “all the rest of the people,” while Good News Translation omits the phrase altogether. To be consistent with verses 11 and 12, this should refer to all the people, not just to the males.

With a loud voice: because of the distances at that location, it would have to be a very loud voice! In some languages this will be made very clear with “will shout loudly.”

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 .