THEOSISJerome of Stridon
They have provoked My anger. The Septuagint states that they turned away from Me, or as Simmachus interprets it, they failed to trust in Me. When called, they quickly abandoned God, demonstrating that there is no gap between the call and their departure. It is important to understand that only those who have previously walked with God experience this falling away. This is why the dragon in the book of Job is referred to as a rebel, a traitor, and an apostate. They were unwilling to heed My voice. None of them rejected the abominations they witnessed, nor did they abandon the idols of Egypt. The Septuagint reiterates that they chose not to listen to Me. They did not turn away from the detestable practices they saw, nor did they renounce the false gods of the Egyptians.
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Because, He states, they provoked Me and turned away, refusing to heed My words, despite having been granted free will. They engaged in actions contrary to the law, leading to a loss of hope for salvation, grumbling against Moses, and doubting the promises of God. Thus, I declared, I will unleash My wrath upon them and execute My fury in the midst of the land of Egypt. As soon as I instructed them to renounce the detestable practices before them and not to defile themselves with the idols of Egypt, they angered Me, ignoring My commands and committing the very acts I had forbidden. Therefore, I resolved to pour out My fury upon them and fulfill the wrath I harbored against them in Egypt, even while they had not yet departed from that land. This is evident in what follows: I led them away from Egypt and into the wilderness. It shows clearly that they had not yet been removed from Egypt when I intended to pour out My wrath and strike them in the midst of that land.