Because he had wrought folly; that is, wickedness; which howsoever vain men many times esteem their wisdom, by the sentence of the all-wise God is accounted and commonly in Scripture called folly, as Deuteronomy 22:21 Joshua 7:15 Judges 19:23, Judges 20:6, &c. In Israel, or, against Israel; either,
1. Against the person, and in or against the family of Israel, a person near and dear to God, and highly honoured by him, and in covenant with God; who therefore esteems the injuries done to Israel as if they were done to himself. See Genesis 12:3 Exodus 23:22 Malachi 2:8. Or,
2. In or against the church of God, which then was in a manner confined to that family, and which is oft called by the name of Israel. See Deuteronomy 22:21 Joshua 7:15. And Moses may here vary the phrase from what was used in Jacob's time to what was usual in his time, the sense being in both the same, and therefore not altered by such a change. Which thing ought not to be done; Heb. shall not be done, i.e. should not, &c. But in the Hebrew language words of the future time oft signify duty and decency, as Zechariah 1:6, Zechariah 2:7.