And it came to pass in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of the month, that Moses spake unto the children of Israel, according unto all that the Lord had given him in commandment unto them; (Deuteronomy 1:3)
Two months and nine days before crossing the Jordan (cf. Joshua 4:19). The book of Deuteronomy is a record of what occurred during this interval of time.
The forteith year.
This included the year in which they left Egypt; the second year, in which they left Sinai after a stay of 11 months; plus 38 years of wandering, until after the death of Aaron (Ex. 19:1; Num. 10:11; Deut. 2:14; see p. 187).