translation_id: net-engnet

book_id: DEU

label: NET study note

text: Anakites . See note on this term in Deut 1:28 .


text: The very finger of God . This is a double figure of speech (1) in which God is ascribed human features (anthropomorphism) and (2) in which a part stands for the whole (synecdoche). That is, God, as Spirit, has no literal finger nor, if he had, would he write with his finger. Rather, the sense is that God himself – not Moses in any way – was responsible for the composition of the Ten Commandments (cf. Exod 31:18; 32:16; 34:1 ).


text: Taberah . By popular etymology this derives from the Hebrew verb בָעַר ( ba ’ a r , “to burn”), thus, here, “burning.” The reference is to the Lord ’s fiery wrath against Israel because of their constant complaints against him ( Num 11:1-3 ).


text: Massah . See note on this term in Deut 6:16 .


text: Kibroth-Hattaavah . This place name means in Hebrew “burial places of appetite,” that is, graves that resulted from overindulgence. The reference is to the Israelites stuffing themselves with the quail God had provided and doing so with thanklessness ( Num 11:31-35 ).