Deuteronomy 23:11

11 Toward evening he must wash, and at sunset he may come back to camp.

Deuteronomy 23:11 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 23:11

But it shall be, when evening cometh on
When the day declines, and it is near sun setting:

he shall wash himself with water;
dip himself all over in water, not only wash his garments but his flesh:

and when the sun is down he shall come into the camp again;
and take his place and rank in the army. Now if all this was necessary on account of ceremonial uncleanness, which as much as possible was to be avoided, how much more careful were they to be of moral uncleanness, as fornication, adultery, and all sorts of debauchery and lewdness? and yet nothing more frequent among those that are of the military order; it would be well if there was no occasion for the reproach Maimonides

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FOOTNOTES:

F17 casts upon the camps of the Heathens, among whom, no doubt, he means Christians, if not principally; when he observes that these orders were given, that this might be deeply fixed in the mind of every one, that their camp ought to be holy as the sanctuary of God, and not like the camps of the Gentiles, in which abound corruptions of all kinds, transgressions, rapines, thefts, and other sins.

F17 Moreh Nevochim, par. 3. c. 41.

Deuteronomy 23:11 In-Context

9 When you're at war and have set up camp to fight your enemies, stay away from anything that will make you unclean.

10 If one of your men becomes unclean from a nocturnal emission, he must go outside the camp and stay there.

11 Toward evening he must wash, and at sunset he may come back to camp.

12 Choose a place outside the camp where you can go [to relieve yourself].

13 You must carry a pointed stick as part of your equipment. When you go outside to squat, dig a hole with it. When you're done, cover up your excrement.