Deuteronomy 23:12-14 is pregnant with interesting theological, moral, and sociocultural concepts which require exploration. From the premise that the possession of and survival on the Promised Land required that Israel would engage in warfare, YHWH’s presence in their camp to engage in a war against His enemies, who were Israel’s enemies, had to be ensured. Such divine presence required the maintenance of holiness of their military camp, which called for the people having to bury their faeces outside it, a practice argued to be motivated by other reasons as well.
YamoahJ_PhDFinal_Oct2015Author: Yamoah, James