Here the song begins to tell the story of the Israelites in the land of Canaan, after they settled down and became a strong, prosperous people.

He made him ride on the high places of the earth: the exact origin of the verbal phrase He made him ride (also Isa 58.14) is unknown. It seems to imply riding on an animal, perhaps a horse, but this cannot be proven. The usual phrase is “to walk [or, stride] on the high places” (see 33.29; Psa 18.33; Amos 4.13; Micah 1.3). But the meaning of this figure is quite clear; it means to be given possession of, to conquer, to own, to rule. Yahweh gave Israel the highlands of Canaan; so New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh says “He set him atop the highlands” (see 8.7-9; Exo 15.17). This is not steep, mountainous country as such, but the highlands, as compared with the seacoast and lowland plains. The verbal phrase made him ride on is a poetic figure that means to give possession of or dominion over. Another way to express this sentence is “He let them [or, you] rule in the high country of Canaan.”

He ate the produce of the field: here the valleys and plains are joined to the highlands. Following the Samaritan text, the Septuagint, Syriac, and Targum, New Revised Standard Version has “and fed him” (that is, God fed Israel). Hebrew Old Testament Text Project prefers the Hebrew Text, however ({A} rating), and this should be followed. He here, of course, refers to the Israelites. So in many languages something like “they [or, you] ate what grew in the fields” will be more satisfactory.

He made him suck honey out of the rock: the verb made him suck is figurative language in which to “suckle” a child is a picture of God tenderly feeding his people (see Gen 21.7). The text is talking about wild beehives found among clefts of rocks and crags, where the Israelites would get honey (see the figure in Isa 7.18-19). So Good News Translation has “they found wild honey among the rocks.”

And oil out of the flinty rock: this is olive oil, and the meaning is that olive trees were growing on rocky hillsides. Good News Translation offers a good model for the translation of the last part of the verse.

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 .

And die: in the context this is a command. But we may say something like “you shall die” (New Revised Standard Version, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh).

On the mountain which you ascend: this will be needless repetition in some languages; in others it will be normal style.

Be gathered to your people: that is, Moses will go to Sheol, where the other dead Israelites are. This is a common way of speaking of dying; see Gen 25.3; 27.13; 35.29; Num 27.13 (and see the similar expression in 31.16). In some cultures this will be a normal way of talking about death; where it is not, this phrase should not be used. The translation should say simply “you will die.”

As Aaron your brother: for Aaron’s death see 10.6; Num 20.22-29; 33.38-39. Good News Translation is a good model for this verse.

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 .

The plains of Moab: see 1.5; Num 36.13.

To Mount Nebo: see 32.45. This is on the east side of the Jordan River, opposite the city of Jericho.

To the top of Pisgah: see 3.17. Either two traditions have been joined together here, or else Pisgah is taken to be the highest peak of Nebo. Good News Translation follows the second interpretation, understanding Pisgah to be a separate peak of Mount Nebo, whereas Contemporary English Version understands Mount Nebo to be a separate peak on Mount Pisgah. Translators may follow either Good News Translation or Contemporary English Version.

Opposite Jericho: see 32.49.

Showed him all the land: on both sides of the Jordan River.

Gilead: a territory on the east side of the Jordan River (see 2.36), its south end reaching the northern tip of the Dead Sea.

As far as Dan: the town of Dan was the northernmost town in the territory of the tribe of Dan, north of Lake Galilee.

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 .

With the beginning of a new section, Moses should be reintroduced as the speaker.

Takes a wife, and goes in to her: this is the literal Hebrew text; it is not standard English. It is assumed that a man will have sexual intercourse with his wife as soon as they are married, so something like the following may be better: “A man marries and, after making love to [or, sleeping with] his wife, decides that he doesn’t like [or, love] her.”

Spurns: this translates the verb normally rendered “to hate.” New International Version and New Revised Standard Version have “dislikes her,” New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh “takes an aversion to her,” Revised English Bible “turns against her,” Bible en français courant “stops loving her.”

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 .

It may be helpful to start verse 10 with something like “Moses continued to speak to the Israelites.”

Moses tells of another forty days and forty nights he stayed on the mountain (see 9.9).

The LORD hearkened to me at that time also: again the LORD answered his prayer. And as a consequence of Moses’ prayer, the LORD was unwilling to destroy you (see 9.26 and similar passages). This can be rendered “the LORD agreed not to destroy you,” or “the LORD decided not to….”

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 .