Now comes the command to cross the Jordan River and take possession of the land of Canaan, which the LORD had promised the patriarchs he would give to their descendants (see 1.8).

Go on your journey at the head of the people: this makes it sound like Moses will lead the Israelites into the Promised Land, whereas he died in Moab without crossing the Jordan into the land of Canaan. Good News Translation has “Then he told me to go and lead you…”; and Contemporary English Version has, “Instead he told me, ‘Moses, get ready to lead the people….’ ” These are both possible alternatives to Revised Standard Version.

For possess the land and fathers, see 1.8.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .