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Deuteronomy 23:12

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Deuteronomy 23:12 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Thou shalt have a place also without the camp, whither thou shalt go forth abroad:” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Thou shalt have a place also without the camp, whither thou shalt go forth abroad:
Deuteronomy 23:12 — American Standard Version

Context — Deuteronomy 23

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
9When thou goest forth in camp against thine enemies, then thou shalt keep thee from every evil thing.
10If there be among you any man, that is not clean by reason of that which chanceth him by night, then shall he go abroad out of the camp, he shall not come within the camp:
11but it shall be, when evening cometh on, he shall bathe himself in water; and when the sun is down, he shall come within the camp.
12Thou shalt have a place also without the camp, whither thou shalt go forth abroad:
13and thou shalt have a paddle among thy weapons; and it shall be, when thou sittest down abroad, thou shalt dig therewith, and shalt turn back and cover that which cometh from thee:
14for Jehovah thy God walketh in the midst of thy camp, to deliver thee, and to give up thine enemies before thee; therefore shall thy camp be holy, that he may not see an unclean thing in thee, and turn away from thee.
15Thou shalt not deliver unto his master a servant that is escaped from his master unto thee:
← Deuteronomy 23:11Deuteronomy 23:13 →
← Full Chapter 23 Deuteronomy Overview

What do historical commentaries say?

Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The whole passage refers not to the encampments of the nation while passing from Egypt through the wilderness, but to future warlike expeditions seat out from Canaan. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“23:12 outside the camp: Defecation is a normal bodily function, but it brought ritual impurity and therefore violated God’s holiness.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“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. Deuteronomy 23:13”
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Related study paths

Read Deuteronomy 23 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification