Assemble: here Moses is talking to the Levites (verse 25). It will be helpful for readers to put this information in the text; for example, “Then he said to the Levites, ‘Assemble….’ ”

The elders of your tribes: for elders see 5.23; this is the only place in the Old Testament where this phrase occurs.

Your officers: see 1.15.

I may speak these words in their ears: Moses is going to speak directly to them.

Call heaven and earth to witness against them: see 4.26 and 30.19. In the present verse the sky and the earth will be witnesses that the people of Israel know what they are supposed to do but haven’t done it.

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 .