Deuteronomy 3:5

3:5 All of these cities were fortified by high walls, gates, and locking bars; ¹  in addition there were a great many open villages. ² 

Deuteronomy 15:17

15:17 you shall take an awl and pierce a hole through his ear to the door. ³  Then he will become your servant permanently (this applies to your female servant as well).

[3:5]  ¹ tn Or “high walls and barred gates” (NLT); Heb “high walls, gates, and bars.” Since “bars” could be understood to mean “saloons,” the qualifying adjective “locking” has been supplied in the translation.

[3:5]  ² tn The Hebrew term פְּרָזִי (pÿraziy) refers to rural areas, at the most “unwalled villages” (KJV, NASB “unwalled towns”).

[15:17]  ³ sn When the bondslave’s ear was drilled through to the door, the door in question was that of the master’s house. In effect, the bondslave is declaring his undying and lifelong loyalty to his creditor. The scar (or even hole) in the earlobe would testify to the community that the slave had surrendered independence and personal rights. This may be what Paul had in mind when he said “I bear on my body the marks of Jesus” (Gal 6:17).