And I fell down before the Lord, as at the first, forty days and forty nights: I did neither eat bread, nor drink water, because of all your sins which ye sinned, in doing wickedly in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger. (Deuteronomy 9:18)
Three times prior to this there had been major disobedience on the part of Israel—at Marah (Ex. 15:23), in the Wilderness of Sin (Ex. 16:2, 3), and at Massah (Ex. 17:2-7).
As at the first.
That is, as during the first 40 days and nights. This was the morning after he had broken up the golden calf (Ex. 32:30-32).
I fell down.
In intercession on behalf of the people. In Oriental lands even today prostration is the posture of complete submission.