Final answer:
Moses describes God being angry with him because the Israelites worshipped a golden calf, violating the commandment against idolatry, while Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving the 10 Commandments.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the Book of Deuteronomy, chapters 1-4, Moses describes God being angry with him on account of the Israelites. The anger was directed towards Moses because while he was receiving the 10 Commandments from God atop Mount Sinai, the Israelites constructed and worshipped a golden calf, directly violating the commandment against idolatry. This act of betrayal, after God helped them escape slavery in Egypt, caused Moses to smash the tablets of the Covenant in frustration and anger.
Essentially, God's anger in this instance was triggered by the Israelites' lack of faith and disobedience, as they quickly turned to idol worship despite the recent divine interventions and miracles they had witnessed. Moses, being their leader, felt the weight of their collective sin, and this theme of obedience and covenant is central throughout the biblical narrative of the Exodus.