1 In this book are the words that Moses spoke to the people of Israel when they were in the wilderness east of the River Jordan. They were in the Jordan Valley near Suph, between the town of Paran on one side and the towns of Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth, and Dizahab on the other.
2 (It takes eleven days to travel from Mount Sinai to Kadesh Barnea by way of the hill country of Edom.)
3 On the first day of the eleventh month of the fortieth year after they had left Egypt, Moses told the people everything the Lord had commanded him to tell them.
4 This was after the Lord; or Moses. had defeated King Sihon of the Amorites, who ruled in the town of Heshbon, and King Og of Bashan, who ruled in the towns of Ashtaroth and Edrei.
5 It was while the people were east of the Jordan in the territory of Moab that Moses began to explain God's laws and teachings.He said,
6 “When we were at Mount Sinai, the Lord our God said to us, ‘You have stayed long enough at this mountain.