Uncleanness in the Camp

When Israel goes out against its enemies, it must guard itself from uncleanness. A man made unclean by a nocturnal emission must stay outside the camp until evening, wash, and then return.

W⁹hen you are encamped against your enemies, then you shall keep yourself from every wicked thing. ¹⁰If any man among you becomes unclean because of a nocturnal emission, he must leave the camp and stay outside. ¹¹When evening approaches, he must wash with water, and when the sun sets he may return to the camp.

The camp must also have a designated place and tool for relieving oneself, with waste buried outside. These plain instructions are tied to the LORD’s presence as He walks through the camp to protect and deliver.

¹²You must have a place outside the camp to go and relieve yourself. ¹³And you must have a digging tool in your equipment so that when you relieve yourself you can dig a hole and cover up your excrement. ¹⁴For the LORD your God walks throughout your camp to protect you and deliver your enemies to you. Your camp must be holy, lest He see anything unclean among you and turn away from you.