Deuteronomy 32:16

16 provocaverunt eum in diis alienis et in abominationibus ad iracundiam concitaverunt

Deuteronomy 32:16 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 32:16

They provoked him to jealousy with strange [gods]
Or "with others" F8; the word "gods" is not in the text, nor were the Jews guilty of worshipping strange gods or idols in the times of Christ, nor had they been from the time of their coming out of the Babylonish captivity; but the word, as Cocceius observes, is used for "another", as in ( Job 19:27 ) ; and signifies other saviours, other messiahs, whom the Jews set up when they rejected Christ, the rock of salvation; and it is observable, that before the coming of Christ, they never attempted to set up any; but, after they had rejected him, were ready to embrace everyone that offered, of which one, called Bar Cochab, the son of a star, in allusion to ( Numbers 24:17 ) ; is a flagrant instance; and whom, when they found themselves deceived, they called Bar Cozba, the son of a lie, or a lying fellow; to whom our Lord may be thought to have respect, ( John 5:43 ) ; and where he expressly calls him another. Now, not only to reject Jesus, the true Messiah, but to set up others in his room, false Christs, was highly provoking to God, who is a jealous God, and will not give his glory to another:

with abominations provoked they him to anger;
by advancing the traditions of the elders to an equality with, and above the word of God; and by continuing sacrifices, after the great sacrifice was offered up, when they ought to have ceased; for, by continuing them, it was saying Christ was not come in the flesh, nor his sacrifice offered up; it was trampling under foot the Son of God, and treating his blood and sacrifice with contempt; which must be an abomination to God, and highly provoking of his anger, when that sacrifice was of a sweet smelling savour to him; and especially what was abominable to him, and grievously provoked him to anger and wrath, was their setting up the idol of their own righteousness, refusing to submit to the righteousness of Christ, ( Romans 10:3 ) ; and indeed, whenever anything is set up in competition with him, or in opposition to him, be it what it will, it must be an abomination to God; because it opposes his purposes and resolutions of saving men by Christ alone, reflects on his wisdom in the scheme of salvation, flies in the face of his love, grace, and mercy, makes the death of Christ of none effect, advances pride in the creature, gives God the lie, who says there is no other Saviour, and is a total slight and neglect of his Gospel; all which must be abominable, and dreadfully provoking to him; see ( Isaiah 65:5 ) ( Luke 16:15 ) ( 18:14 ) ;


FOOTNOTES:

F8 (Myrzb) "per alios", Cocceius.

Deuteronomy 32:16 In-Context

14 butyrum de armento et lac de ovibus cum adipe agnorum et arietum filiorum Basan et hircos cum medulla tritici et sanguinem uvae biberet meracissimum
15 incrassatus est dilectus et recalcitravit incrassatus inpinguatus dilatatus dereliquit Deum factorem suum et recessit a Deo salutari suo
16 provocaverunt eum in diis alienis et in abominationibus ad iracundiam concitaverunt
17 immolaverunt daemonibus et non Deo diis quos ignorabant novi recentesque venerunt quos non coluerunt patres eorum
18 Deum qui te genuit dereliquisti et oblitus es Domini creatoris tui
The Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.