Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Deuteronomy 23:12
Thou shalt have a place also without the camp, whither thou shalt go forth abroad:
Verse 12. &c.] These directions may appear trifling to some, but they were essentially necessary to this people in their present circumstances. Decency and cleanliness promote health, and prevent many diseases.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
To wit, to ease thyself, as it follows, Deu 23:13.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Thou shalt have also a place without the camp,…. A place prepared, as the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan, provided on purpose for the use hereafter suggested; so Ben Melech:
whither thou shalt go forth abroad; to do the necessities of nature, which they were to do without the camp, not in any place they thought fit and most convenient, but what was appointed for that purpose.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Verses 12-14:
When going forth to war, Israel must be cleansed from natural pollution.
Israel was to maintain a place outside the camp as a Comfort station, likely as normal procedure, verse 12.
In addition, the men were required to make provision for sanitary measures as they went forth to war.
“Paddle,” yathed, “a pin, nail, stake.”
“Weapon,” azen, “a pointed weapon, or staff,” the text being the only occurrence of this term in the Old Testament.
Some suggest that this “paddle” was an instrument in addition to the weapon, and not necessarily attached to it.
Each Israeli soldier must have an instrument for digging in the ground. When he went outside the encampment to relieve himself, he was to dig a hole for this purpose, and then cover the hole when relieved.
This requirement was for both natural and spiritual reasons: to provide a sanitary camp site; and to provide a place ceremonially clean for the Presence of Jehovah God to be among them.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
Deu 23:12 Thou shalt have a place also without the camp, whither thou shalt go forth abroad:
Ver. 12. And shalt turn back and cover. ] How much more curious should they be of soul defilements? Sin is the soul’s excrements, and defiles a man worse than any excement. Mat 7:15 ; Mat 7:20 ; Mat 7:23
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Deu 23:12-14
12You shall also have a place outside the camp and go out there, 13and you shall have a spade among your tools, and it shall be when you sit down outside, you shall dig with it and shall turn to cover up your excrement. 14Since the LORD your God walks in the midst of your camp to deliver you and to defeat your enemies before you, therefore your camp must be holy; and He must not see anything indecent among you or He will turn away from you.
Deu 23:12 a place Hebrew has the term hand (BDB 388), which possibly referred to a marker to designate a general area for the purpose of excrement (BDB 844).
Deu 23:13
NASBa spade
NKJVan implement
NRSV, NJBa trowel
TEVa stick
The Hebrew term (BDB 450) refers to some type of digging instrument. Whether it was a military weapon used for two purposes or a separate item such as a tent peg carried for this one purpose is uncertain.
NASBtools
NKJV, TEV,
NJBequipment
NRSVutensils
The term’s (BDB 24) meaning is uncertain. The Arabic means possessions, while the Aramaic means weapons. In context it seems to be a military weapon which was also used as a digging tool involved in the ceremonial and hygiene covering of excrement. It is used only here in the entire OT.
Deu 23:14 the LORD your God walks in the midst of your camp This is a possible reference to the Levites carrying the Ark of the Covenant (cf. Exo 25:10-22), which took the place of the shekinah cloud (e.g., Exo 13:21-22; Exo 14:19-20; Exo 16:10; Exo 19:9; Exo 19:16; Lev 16:2; Lev 16:13) as the symbol of the divine Presence after Israel crossed the Jordan. The rabbis later took this verse literally and ruled that no manure could be used in the gardens in the city of Jerusalem.
anything indecent This is a CONSTRUCT of word (BDB 182 IV, #6) with nakedness (BDB 788, #2, cf. Deu 24:1). In this context it refers to ceremonial cleanness related to bodily fluids (cf. Leviticus 15). It seems to be a way to teach Israel that YHWH’s presence and power with them must be matched by their holiness and constant vigil.
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
In such a vast camp as that of the Israelites – see Num 1:1, and Num 2:1, and indeed, as Scheuchzer remarks, in every well regulated camp, cleanliness is considered as indispensably necessary.
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
23:12 Thou shalt have a place also without the camp, whither thou shalt
(f) go forth abroad:
(f) For the necessities of nature.