Then the people of Israel set out, and encamped … is a typical and characteristic starting point of a new narrative paragraph in Numbers, as mentioned in the introductory comments above. Set out renders the Hebrew verb translated “set out … on the march” in 2.9 (see the comments there). For encamped see 1.50.

In the plains of Moab: In this context the Hebrew word for plains is better translated “unforested grasslands,” “prairies,” or “steppes” (New Jewish Publication Society Version). The journey through the desert is now at an end; this verse marks the end of the “journey motif” in the book of Numbers. The rest of the book is located in the steppes of Moab.

Beyond the Jordan at Jericho: The Old Testament expression beyond the Jordan should be understood from the perspective of the land of Canaan (which was west of the Jordan River), so this phrase refers to the land “east of the Jordan” (Good News Bible), which translators should make clear. Coming directly after this phrase, at Jericho may wrongly suggest that this city was located east of the Jordan. Jericho was actually located 9 kilometers (5.5 miles) west of the Jordan. Renderings for this whole phrase that express this clearly are “across the Jordan from Jericho” (New Revised Standard Version), “east of the Jordan and opposite Jericho” (Good News Bible, Dutch Common Language Version), and “on the eastern bank of the Jordan, facing Jericho” (Bible en français courant). Jericho was the first city that the Israelites attacked in their conquest of the land of Canaan.

Quoted with permission from de Regt, Lénart J. and Wendland, Ernst R. A Handbook on Numbers. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2016. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .