Deuteronomy 9:18 Meaning and Explanation
“And I fell down before the LORD, as at the first, forty days and forty nights: I did neither eat bread, nor drink water, because of all your sins which ye sinned, in doing wickedly in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Moses intercedes before God for 40 days and nights, fasting on account of Israel's sin.
The Context of Deuteronomy 9:18
Moses intercedes for Israel with a 40-day fast, standing between God's wrath and the people's destruction.
What Does Deuteronomy 9:18 Mean?
After breaking the tablets, Moses prostrates himself before God in intercession. He fasts again for forty days and nights, not eating or drinking, mirroring his earlier sacred communion. But now his fasting is an act of intercession on behalf of Israel's grave sin.
Moses stands in the gap between God's justice and Israel's survival. He does not excuse or minimize their wickedness—he names it clearly as sin done to provoke God's anger. Yet his body, his prayers, his sustained petition become the means by which God's judgment might be tempered. His intercession is his substitute action.
Frequently Asked Questions About Deuteronomy 9:18
What does Deuteronomy 9:18 mean?
Moses intercedes before God for 40 days and nights, fasting on account of Israel's sin.
What is the context of Deuteronomy 9:18?
Moses intercedes for Israel with a 40-day fast, standing between God's wrath and the people's destruction.