Deuteronomy 9:18

18 and I throw myself before Jehovah, as at first, forty days and forty nights; bread I have not eaten, and water I have not drunk, because of all your sins which ye have sinned, by doing the evil thing in the eyes of Jehovah, to make Him angry.

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 see, and lo, ye have sinned against Jehovah your God; ye have made to yourselves a molten calf; ye have turned aside hastily out of the way which Jehovah hath commanded you.

17 `And I lay hold on the two tables, and cast them out of my two hands, and break them before your eyes,

18 and I throw myself before Jehovah, as at first, forty days and forty nights; bread I have not eaten, and water I have not drunk, because of all your sins which ye have sinned, by doing the evil thing in the eyes of Jehovah, to make Him angry.

19 `For I have been afraid because of the anger and the fury with which Jehovah hath been wroth against you, to destroy you; and Jehovah doth hearken unto me also at this time.

20 `And with Aaron hath Jehovah shewed himself very angry, to destroy him, and I pray also for Aaron at that time;