The remainder of Chapter 23 deals with sanitation rules and with a list of miscellaneous laws. Today we'll look at the rules for maintaining good hygiene when the army is encamped.
When Israel goes to war and the army is camped in tents, sanitation rules must be observed. The men may be living rough while they are camped but good hygiene is still important for the health of the army. The saying, "Cleanliness is next to godliness," is not in the Bible but in our text today we'll see that cleanliness symbolizes godliness. The hearts of the soldiers are to be right with the Lord (inward cleanliness) and they are to practice hygiene rules to the best of their ability under the circumstances (outward cleanliness).
"When you are encamped against your enemies, keep away from anything impure. If one of your men is unclean because of a nocturnal emission, he is to go outside the camp and stay there. But as evening approaches he is to wash himself, and at sunset he may return to the camp." (Deuteronomy 23:9-11) Leviticus 15:16-17 discussed this and said the man must bathe his whole body with water along with any clothing or other material with the emission on it. He would be unclean until evening but then could go on with normal life.
For obvious reasons, it's important to locate the latrine outside the camp. The men aren't to relieve themselves wherever they please, and especially not within the camp. This presents a health hazard and a smell hazard. "Designate a place outside the camp where you can go to relieve yourselves. As part of your equipment have something to dig with, and when you relieve yourself, dig a hole and cover up your excrement." (Deuteronomy 23:12-13)
The Lord is going to go with the army of Israel and the men are to behave just as they would if they could actually see their great General walking among them. Just because they are not at home doesn't mean they can have the attitude, "What happens in the camp stays in the camp." They are to observe certain rules about bodily purity wherever they are because if they become lax in maintaining bodily purity they will find themselves growing lazy about their spiritual purity. Would a man stand in his tent doorway and relieve his bladder from there if he thought the general of the army might pass by and see him? I doubt it. In this same way the men are to respectfully go a distance from the camp before performing such bodily functions, for the mighty General of Israel's army is present. "For the Lord your God moves about in your camp to protect you and to deliver your enemies to you. Your camp must be holy, so that He will not see among you anything indecent and turn away from you." (Deuteronomy 23:14)
Out of reverence for the Lord, the camp must be kept clean. Just as soldiers in the United States Army are to keep themselves and their barracks in tip-top shape, the soldiers of the Lord's army are to behave as if He will show up to do an inspection at any moment. He must not find them behaving slothfully. He must not find filth inside the camp. Imagine how offended a human army general would feel if he had to step around piles of human excrement while inspecting the camp. The Lord is holy and has far more power and authority than any human general. If He finds filth (literal filth or spiritual filth) inside the camp, He is going to be offended. He is going to feel disrespected. He may allow the men to lose a battle as discipline for their irreverence.
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