Deuteronomy 9:16

9:16 When I looked, you had indeed sinned against the Lord your God and had cast for yourselves a metal calf; ¹  you had quickly turned aside from the way he ²  had commanded you!

Deuteronomy 33:21

33:21 He has selected the best part for himself,

for the portion of the ruler ³  is set aside ⁴  there;

he came with the leaders ⁵  of the people,

he obeyed the righteous laws of the Lord

and his ordinances with Israel.

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¹ tn On the phrase “metal calf,” see note on the term “metal image” in v. 12.

² tn Heb “the Lord.” See note on “he” in 9:3.

³ tn The Hebrew term מְחֹקֵק (mÿkhoqeq; Poel participle of חָקַק, khaqaq, “to inscribe”) reflects the idea that the recorder of allotments (the “ruler”) is able to set aside for himself the largest and best. See E. H. Merrill, Deuteronomy (NAC), 444-45.

⁴ tn Heb “covered in” (if from the root סָפַן, safan; cf. HALOT 764-65 s.v. ספן qal).

⁵ tn Heb “heads” (in the sense of chieftains).