Tyndale Open Study NotesDeuteronomy 9

fortified to the heavens: This phrase shows that humans cannot break through these walls by themselves (Numbers 13:28). For Israel to succeed, God must guide them and fight for them (Deuteronomy 9:5).

The image of a consuming fire shows God fighting his enemies (see 1:30). God will not only use fire. He will be an unstoppable fire, consuming everything in his path. In the end, Israel will only need to walk in and occupy the conquered land.

to keep the promise: In the covenant promises made to the patriarchs, God swore that their descendants would inherit the land of Canaan (Genesis 13:14–17; 15:18–21; see Deuteronomy 1:8; 8:18).

stiff-necked: This describes a work animal that refuses to bend its neck to accept a yoke (a wooden bar placed on animals to guide and control them; Exodus 32:9; 33:3, 5; Isaiah 48:4). The word describes someone who refuses to obey or change direction. Sadly, Israel was not stubborn only at certain times. Stubbornness became the nation’s usual attitude and way of acting.

• the covenant: Here, this refers to the promises God made with Israel about 40 years earlier at Sinai (see 4:13).

• In the Bible, the phrase forty days and forty nights often means a time of trial or testing (Exodus 34:28). The fast of Moses was like the fast of Jesus (Matthew 4:2).

  While it is possible to go without food for forty days, a person usually cannot live without water for more than a few days. God directly sustained Moses (compare Matthew 4:11).

Referring to the finger of God emphasizes God's personal interest and involvement in communicating the text of the covenant (see study notes on 4:34 and 8:2; see also Exodus 31:18; 32:15–16; 34:1, 28).

The type of idol mentioned here comes from a Hebrew word meaning "cast" or "pour." They would make it by pouring liquid metal into a mold (Exodus 32:1–4).

People made other idols from carved wood, stone, clay, or precious metals hammered into thin sheets over wooden cores.

blot out their name: The Lord threatened to destroy Israel's identity and existence (see study note on 7:24).

When Israel was at Mount Sinai, the people made a golden calf as an idol (Exodus 32). This idol was likely shaped like the sacred bulls and cows that people worshiped in Egypt. Two well-known Egyptian gods were Apis, a bull god, and Hathor, a cow goddess. Both were connected with fertility (the ability to have children, animals, and good crops).

Later, when the Israelites entered the land of Canaan, they met people who worshiped other fertility gods. These Canaanite religions taught that their gods gave rain, crops, and children. The Israelites would be tempted to trust these false gods instead of trusting the one true God to bless them (compare Deuteronomy 8:18–20).

• Soon after Israel left Mount Sinai, the people began to complain against the Lord. They complained again and again with anger. As a result, the Lord sent a fire that killed some of them. The name Taberah means “place of burning.“

• Earlier, the people came to a place called Massah. There, they tested the Lord. They questioned whether he could provide water for them. The name Massah means “place of testing.”

• At Kibroth-hattaavah, the Israelites demanded food other than manna. The Lord provided quail in a miraculous way. The people ate too much and showed greedy desire. Because of this sin, many of them died. The name Kibroth-hattaavah means “graves of gluttony.”

Israel used Kadesh-barnea as its main camp during the 38 years of wandering in the wilderness (see also study note on 1:19).

The Lord redeemed Israel from their bondage in Egypt by his own gracious efforts on their behalf.

In Hebrew, the term translated as remember does not always mean "to recall something forgotten," especially when God is the one remembering (see study notes on 8:2 and 32:36). Here, it means that God would keep his promises to the patriarchs by doing what he said.

Asking God to remember is more than making him aware of a need. It is a plea for him to act and meet that need (compare Luke 23:42–43).