Deuteronomy 31:17

“Then my anger shall be kindled against them in that day, etc.] As the anger of a man is against his wife who has treacherously departed from him: and jealousy, which is the rage of such a man, is very cruel; and much more the wrath and anger of a jealous God, who is a consuming fire: and I will forsake them; withdraw his favours from them, and his protection of them: and I will hide my face from them; take no notice of them in a providential way for good, nor hear their cries, to deliver them from evil: and they shall be devoured; by their enemies, or by the sore judgments of God, by famine, sword, pestilence, and evil beasts, they and their substance: and many evils and troubles shall…”

“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."”

“The transaction recorded in these verses may be regarded as the solemn inauguration of Joshua to the office to which he had some time before Numbers 27:22 been called, and his recognition in it by God, which were manifested by his being summoned into the tabernacle with Moses while the Lord appeared in the pillar of cloud (compare Numbers 11:25; Numbers 12:5). Deuteronomy 31:16 The future apostasy of the people is announced in the presence of Joshua that the latter might be fully aware of the danger and strive in his day to avert it. This he faithfully did (compare Joshua 24:31); but we find him in his own last address to Israel repeating Joshua 23:15-16 the self-same prediction and warning.…”

“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. Deuteronomy 31:19”

“my anger: Deu 29:20, Deu 32:21, Deu 32:22; Jdg 2:14, Jdg 2:15; Psa 2:12, Psa 90:11 I will forsake: Ch1 28:9; Ch2 15:2; Jer 23:33, Jer 23:39; Hos 9:12 hide my face: Though this may allude to the withdrawing of the Shechinah, or visible appearance of Jehovah, yet the general meaning of the expression in Scripture is, the withdrawing of his approbation and protection, of which his visible appearance was formerly the sign and pledge. Deu 32:20; Job 13:24; Psa 27:9, Psa 30:7, Psa 89:46, Psa 104:29; Isa 8:17, Isa 64:7; Eze 39:23, Eze 39:24, Eze 39:29 befall them: Heb. find them, Neh 9:32 \*marg. Job 34:11 Are not these: Deu 29:24-27; Num 14:42; Jdg 6:13; Isa 63:17 Deuteronomy 31:18”