"... This difference reflects the relative order of the third and fourth letter of the first word. Modern scholars debate which text is more likely original, with BHQ preferring the MT and NRSVue following the Qumran text and the LXX ... The speech runs the length of chapters 29 and 30. The logic of the Qumran and LXX text is clear, and 31:1 notes that Moses completed that speech. The logic of MT is less clear, however, since what does “Moses went” mean in the context of one speech followed by another. Where did he go? The problem has long bothered commentators ... The simpler explanation, therefore, is that וילך in 31:1 is the result of a textual mishap (metathesis). From there, the MT took a second step, smoothing out the grammar from “speaking” to “and he spoke.” ... Clearly, Moses did not finish speaking twice, and the second appearance of the phrase is an example of a resumptive repetition, often a sign that material has been added between the two appearances of identical phrases. This would imply that the song in chapter 32 was added later. Understandably, this doubling may have bothered later scribes or editors. Changing the first verse to read “Moses went” instead of “Moses finished” would obviate this problem ..."