Deu 32:16-17 | TNotes | STEP | 32:16 his jealousy: See study note on 4:24. Just as a husband is properly jealous when another man tries to draw his wife away (Prov 6:34 ), God was jealous when Israel worshiped other gods.

bProv 6:34►

d1 Cor 10:20-21►

eRev 9:20►

‏ Deuteronomy 32:16-17

32:16 ^a his jealousy: See study note on 4:24. Just as a husband is properly jealous when another man tries to draw his wife away (Prov 6:34 ^b), God was jealous when Israel worshiped other gods.
32:17 ^c demons: In the ancient Near East, the gods were thought to protect individuals and places from harm, but worshiping these pagan deities actually amounted to worshiping evil spirits (cp. 1 Cor 10:20-21 ^d; Rev 9:20 ^e).

• New gods were false deities that Israel had never before encountered.