But it shall be, when evening cometh on, he shall wash himself with water: and when the sun is down, he shall come into the camp again.

And shall not return, before he be washed with water in the evening: and after sunset he shall return into the camp.

and it shall be, towards evening, he shall bathe in water: and at the going down of the sun he may come inside the camp.

and it hath been, at the turning of the evening, he doth bathe with water, and at the going in of the sun he doth come in unto the midst of the camp.

But when evening comes near, let him take a bath: and after sundown he may come back to the tents.

And he shall not return before the evening, after he has washed with water, and then, after the sun sets, he shall return to the camp.

quum autem aspexerit vesperum, lavabit se aqua: et quum occubuerit sol, ingredietur castra.

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 (q) 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.
(q) Moreh Nevochim, par. 3. c. 41.