With the beginning of a new section, Moses should be reintroduced as the speaker.

You go forth … and are in camp: this translates one Hebrew verb, “encamped [for battle].” So New International Version, New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible say “you are encamped against your enemies,” and New Jerusalem Bible “When you are in camp, at war with your enemies.” However, in some languages it will be helpful to put in camp in a separate clause or sentence; for example, “when you go to fight your enemies, make sure that your camp is….” Camp may also be expressed as “the place where you set up your tents.”

You shall keep yourself from every evil thing: as throughout all these rules and regulations, the singular “you” is for the people of Israel as a whole; but in many languages the plural will be more natural. The phrase evil thing is the same one that was used in 17.1, where it means “any defect.” New Revised Standard Version has “keep yourself from any impropriety,” Revised English Bible “avoid any foulness,” New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh “anything untoward,” and Biblia Dios Habla Hoy “any indecent act.” Good News Translation has translated correctly in the context, “avoid anything that would make you ritually unclean.” However, a positive command, “make sure that your camp is acceptable to the LORD” (Contemporary English Version), is also possible.

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 .