Deuteronomy 9:18

18 Then I lay prostrate before the LORD as before, forty days and forty nights; I neither ate bread nor drank water, because of all the sin which you had committed, in doing what was evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.

Deuteronomy 9:18 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 9:18

And I fell down before the Lord
In prayer for Israel who had sinned; but this he did not immediately after he had broken the tables, but when he had first ground the calf to powder, strewed it on the water, and made the children of Israel drink it; and when he had chided Aaron, and ordered the sons of Levi to slay every man his brother:

as at the first forty days and forty mights;
which is to be connected, I think, not with what goes before; for we read not that he fell down before the Lord, at the first time he was with him so long in the mount; but with what follows: "I did neither eat bread nor drink water"; as he neither ate nor drank the first forty days, so neither did he these second forty; see ( Deuteronomy 9:9 )

because of all your sins which ye sinned, in doing wickedly in the
sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger;
for they were guilty of more sins than one; besides idolatry, they were guilty of unbelief, ingratitude which were notorious and flagrant, were done openly and publicly, in sight of his glory and majesty on the mount; all which must be very provoking to him, and on account of these Moses prayed and fasted.

Deuteronomy 9:18 In-Context

16 And I looked, and behold, you had sinned against the LORD your God; you had made yourselves a molten calf; you had turned aside quickly from the way which the LORD had commanded you.

17 So I took hold of the two tables, and cast them out of my two hands, and broke them before your eyes.

18 Then I lay prostrate before the LORD as before, forty days and forty nights; I neither ate bread nor drank water, because of all the sin which you had committed, in doing what was evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.

19 For I was afraid of the anger and hot displeasure which the LORD bore against you, so that he was ready to destroy you. But the LORD hearkened to me that time also.

20 And the LORD was so angry with Aaron that he was ready to destroy him; and I prayed for Aaron also at the same time.