Deuteronomy 31:17

Deu 31:17 Then my anger shall be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them, and I will hide my face from them, and they shall be devoured, and many evils and troubles shall befall them; so that they will say in that day, Are not these evils come upon us, because our God [is] not among us?

Ver. 17. And many evils and troubles.] As it befell Samson and Saul, when God was gone; πονος πονω πονον φερει, all miseries came trooping and treading one in the heels of another. So Eze 9:10-11. God makes many moves, and as he goes out, some judgment comes in upon the land.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Deu 31:17. Then my anger shall be kindled against them — So it was upon their first defection to idolatry, (Jdg 2:14,) and so it continued to be in all ages, as we read in that and the following sacred books. I will hide my face from them — A metaphor borrowed from kings, who will not allow those who have offended them to come into their presence and see their face. It signifies, I will withdraw my favour and my help. Whatever outward troubles we are in, if we have but the light of God’s countenance, we are safe. But if God hide his face from us, then we are undone. Are not these evils come upon us because God is not among us? — Here we see the true source of most national, domestic, and personal troubles, the absence of God, or his withdrawing his power, protection, and blessing. This made so remarkable a change in their affairs, that it could not but at last make them reflect on the cause of it. See Jdg 3:9-15; Jdg 4:3.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

That is, I will take my favor from them: as to turn his face toward us, is to show us his favor.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

Then my anger shall be kindled, . . . and I will hide my face from them--an announcement of the withdrawal of the divine favor and protection of which the Shekinah was the symbol and pledge. It never appeared in the second temple; and its non-appearance was a prelude of "all the evils that came upon them, because their God was not among them."

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

(17) Are not these evils come upon us, because our God is not among us?—A confession made freely by them at this present day.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

17. None of the clauses in this v. is characteristic of Deut. My anger shall be kindled against it, JE, Num_11:10; for in that day, as Dillm. points out, Deut. has elsewhere at that time; I will forsake them, contrast Deu_31:6; Deu_31:8, Deu_4:31; hide my face from them, in Pent. only here and Deu_31:18; it shall be devoured, cp. Deu_7:16; come upon me because my God is not in my midst, Deu_1:42. Note that in Deu_31:16-18; Deu_31:20 Israel is referred to in the Sg. Yet Sam. and LXX have many plurals here.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

I will surely hide my face in that day,.... Which is repeated for the certainty of it, and that it might be taken notice of; that he was the spring and source of all their good things, their sun and their shield, who being withdrawn from them, they would be deprived of every thing that was good, and be liable to all evil; and this he would do:

for all the evils which they shall have wrought; for all the immoralities they should be guilty of, every transgression of his law, whether of the first or second table, and especially idolatry:

in that they are turned unto other gods; to the worship and service of them, which of all evils would be the most provoking to God; and the way of speaking suggests as if all evils were included in idolatry, and sprang from it, or were committed with it.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

My face, as one indignant and much displeased. (Calmet) --- I will withdraw my special protection and favours from them. (Menochius)

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

Hide my face, i.e. withdraw my favour and help.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

I will hide my face from them; will not look on them with complacency, will withdraw from them my favor and help. (cf. Deu_32:20; Isa_8:17 Isa_64:7; Eze_39:23)

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Hide my face - Withdraw my favour and help. Whatever outward troubles we are in if we have but the light of God's countenance, we are safe. But if God hide his face from us then we are undone.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

General Information:

Yahweh continues speaking to Moses.

my anger will be kindled against them

Yahweh compares his anger to someone starting a fire. This emphasizes God's power to destroy whatever makes him angry. This can be stated in active form. AT: "I will kindle my anger against them" or "I will become angry with them" (See: Metaphor and Active or Passive)

I will hide my face from them

This is an idiom. AT: "I will not help them" (See: Idiom)

they will be devoured

This can be stated in active form. AT: "I will devour them" or "I will allow their enemies to devour them" (See: Active or Passive)

devoured

This is a metaphor for "completely destroyed." (See: Metaphor)

Many disasters and troubles will find them

This describes the disasters and troubles as if they were human. AT: "They will experience many disasters and troubles" (See: Personification)

Have these disasters not come upon us ... midst?

This describes the disasters and troubles as if they were human. This rhetorical question can be translated as a statement. AT: "These disasters are destroying me ... midst." (See: Personification and Rhetorical Question)

our God is not in our midst

"God is no longer protecting us" or "God has left us alone"

translationWords

anger

face

devour

trouble

God

evil

false god

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.

והסתרתי פני AND I WILL HIDE MY FACE FROM THEM, as though I do not see their distress.

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.

AND THEY WILL SAY IN THAT DAY: ARE NOT THESE EVILS COME UPON US BECAUSE OUR G-D IS NOT AMONG US? This is not a total confession like [the confession in the verse] And they shall confess their iniquity, but it is a reflection and a regret. They will feel sorry for their iniquity and recognize that they are guilty.

Ramban (Nachmanides) on the Tanakh — English translation: “Commentary on the Torah by Ramban (Nachmanides). Translated and annotated by Charles B. Chavel. New York, Shilo Pub. House, 1971-1976” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.

And I will forsake them. To those who will destroy the Beis HaMikdosh, who will overpower them.

And I shall conceal My face from them. I will close My eyes of mercy from them, as if I do not see their suffering.

Because my God is not within me. This has happened to us because He has removed His Divine Presence from our midst. When they realize this they will not turn to Him in prayer, nor repent before Him.

Sforno on the Tanakh — English translation: “Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.