Good News Translation has rearranged the material in verses 46-47 in a more orderly chronological sequence, to allow the reader to understand the meaning of the text.

Testimonies: this word appears here for the first time in this book (see also 6.17, 20). Something like “precepts,” “stipulations” (New International Version), or “instructions” can serve as a translation; there is no significant difference in meaning between this and the following two words.

The testimonies, the statutes, and the ordinances: see 4.1. Good News Translation combines the three terms into “these laws,” while Contemporary English Version has “these laws and teachings.” Some languages will have a number of suitable terms, while others will need to follow Good News Translation or Contemporary English Version.

Moses spoke them when they came out of Egypt: “Moses gave them [to the Israelites] after they had left [or, escaped from] Egypt.”

Beyond the Jordan: see 1.1.

The valley opposite the town of Beth-peor: see 3.29.

For the rest of the verse, see 1.4; 2.26-36. It will not be necessary in many languages to include the final clause when they came out of Egypt, as this information is already in verse 45.

It is possible to restructure verses 45 and 46 as follows:

• The Israelites had come from Egypt and were camped east of the Jordan River near to the town of Beth-Peor. There Moses gave them these laws and teachings. Their camp was in the territory that had formerly belonged to King Sihon, who ruled in the town of Heshbon over the Amorites. But Moses and the Israelites had defeated him, …

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 .