3:15 To day. The writer makes it clear that the use of “today” in Psalm 95:7 was applicable to any time, not just to David’s time. “Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (II Corinthians 6:2).

3:15 provocation. “The provocation” refers to the rebellion of the Israelites at the waters of Meribah (Exodus 17:5-7; Numbers 20:7-13), when the Lord provided water out of the rock for them. The word for “provocation” in Psalm 95:8, from which this is quoted, is the Hebrew Meribah.

3:17 carcases. One of the difficulties posed by skeptics is that, if a million or more Israelites perished in the wilderness during their forty years in the desert, why have none of their graves been found by archaeologists? This verse suggests that the bodies may not have been buried at all, but simply left to decay and return to dust under the desert sun. These all died “because of unbelief” (Hebrews 3:19), without seeing the promised land.