“made Yahweh angry.” What Israel did made God angry. It is somewhat of an overstatement to use the word “provoke,” which usually contains intent, “to stir up purposely.” The people did not set out to make God angry, but nevertheless, what they did angered God.

“bow down.” The common biblical way of bowing down before people or God was to fall to one’s knees and bow the upper body to the earth. It is the same Hebrew word as “worship.”

[For more on bowing down, see commentary on 1 Chron. 29:20.]