7:1 the people of Israel. Although the offense was committed by one man, all Israel is involved and affected (see v. 11; 22:18). The facts stated in v. 1 only gradually became known to the Israelites.

devoted things. See 6:18; note on 6:17.

the anger of the Lord. The anger of God is His personal righteous hostility to evil. Unlike ancient pagan conceptions of divine wrath, in the Bible God’s anger is never arbitrary or capricious. It is as much a part of the New Testament message as of the Old (Matt. 3:7; John 3:36; Rom. 1:18; Col. 3:6; 1 Thess. 1:10; Heb. 10:26–31; Rev. 6:16).