Deuteronomy 3:17

3:17 The Arabah and the Jordan River ¹  were also a border, from the sea of Chinnereth ²  to the sea of the Arabah (that is, the Salt Sea), ³  beneath the watershed ⁴  of Pisgah ⁵  to the east.

Deuteronomy 11:30

11:30 Are they not across the Jordan River, ⁶  toward the west, in the land of the Canaanites who live in the Arabah opposite Gilgal ⁷  near the oak ⁸  of Moreh?

¹ tn The word “River” is not in the Hebrew text, but has been supplied in the translation for clarity (also in vv. 20, 25).

² tn Heb “from Chinnereth.” The words “the sea of” have been supplied in the translation as a clarification.

³ sn The Salt Sea is another name for the Dead Sea (cf. Gen 14:3; Josh 3:16).

⁴ tn The meaning of the Hebrew term אַשְׁדֹּת (’ashdot) is unclear. It is usually translated either “slopes” (ASV, NAB, NIV) or “watershed” (NEB).

⁵ sn Pisgah. This appears to refer to a small range of mountains, the most prominent peak of which is Mount Nebo (Num 21:20; 23:14; Deut 3:27; cf. 34:1).

⁶ tn The word “River” is not in the Hebrew text, but has been supplied in the translation for clarity.

⁷ sn Gilgal. From a Hebrew verb root גָלַל (galal, “to roll”) this place name means “circle” or “rolling,” a name given because God had “rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you” (Josh 5:9). It is perhaps to be identified with Khirbet el-Metjir, 1.2 mi (2 km) northeast of OT Jericho.

⁸ tc The MT plural “oaks” (אֵלוֹנֵי, ’eloney) should probably be altered (with many Greek texts) to the singular “oak” (אֵלוֹן, ’elon; cf. NRSV) in line with the only other occurrence of the phrase (Gen 12:6). The Syriac, Tg. Ps.-J. read mmrá, confusing this place with the “oaks of Mamre” near Hebron (Gen 13:18). Smr also appears to confuse “Moreh” with “Mamre” (reading mwr’, a combined form), adding the clarification mwl shkm (“near Shechem”) apparently to distinguish it from Mamre near Hebron.