For country of the Amorites see verse 7 and elsewhere. You have come may also be expressed as “We have reached” (Contemporary English Version), as Moses would have been including himself here.

Gives: this is better translated “is giving” (New Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation) or “is about to give.”

What follows in the rest of the chapter describes what took place at Kadesh Barnea.

Behold: see verse 8.

Has set the land before you: see verse 8.

Go up: this verb does not always mean to go from a lower to a higher elevation, but may have the more general sense of “go,” “go into,” or “proceed.” Here, however, go up makes sense, since Kadesh Barnea was at a lower level than the hill country.

Take possession: see verse 8.

The LORD, the God of your fathers: see verse 11.

Has told you: that is, “has ordered you,” “has commanded you.”

Do not fear or be dismayed: the use of two verbs that mean almost the same thing makes the command even stronger; the Israelites are to be completely fearless as they begin to invade the land that Yahweh, their God, is giving them. In some languages do not fear or be dismayed may be translated as “Don’t have any fear in your hearts at all,” or figuratively, for example, “Don’t let your hearts fall [or, melt].”

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 .