The term used here means to act contrary to one’s duty,
whether in relation to God or the neighbour. Within the covenant the Lord had established with his people, the term unfaithful
catches the thought that Israel has reneged on her obligations to trust the Lord and so to obey his commands. In the event of a breach of faith, the Lord instructed that some form of compensation must be paid (Leviticus 5:15–16; Leviticus 6:4–5; Numbers 5:6–7). In other words, there can be no rectification of a relationship without an acknowledgement of wrongdoing, and repairing, as best as possible, the damage done. This is the biblical notion of repentance.
8 Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples,