Ezekiel 20:6

6 On that day I swore[a] to them that I would bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land I had searched out for them, [a land] flowing with milk and honey,[b] the most beautiful of all lands.[c]

Ezekiel 20:6 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 20:6

In the day [that] I lifted up my hand unto them, to bring them
forth of the land of Egypt
Not only promised and swore to it, but exerted his power in the miracles he wrought, by bringing plagues upon the Egyptians, to oblige them to let them go forth from thence: into a land that I had espied for them;
which he had in his eye and in his heart for them; which he had in his mind provided for them, and was determined in his purposes to bring them to; and which he, as it were, looked out for them, and singled out as the best and most suitable for them: flowing with milk and honey;
a phrase often used, to express the fruitfulness of the land, of Canaan, and the great plenty of provisions in it: which [is] the glory of all lands;
that is, either which fertility, signified by milk and honey, is the glory of all lands, or makes all countries desirable where they are found; or else, which land of Canaan, being so fruitful, is more glorious or desirable than any other country; it greatly surpassing all others in its situation, soil, and climate. The Targum is,

``which is the praise of all provinces;''
that is, was praised and commended by the inhabitants of all other provinces for the plenty in it; which must needs be very great, to support so large a number of inhabitants in it, and yet its compass but small.

Ezekiel 20:6 In-Context

4 "Will you pass judgment against them, will you pass judgment, son of man? Explain to them the abominations of their fathers.
5 Say to them: This is what the Lord God says: On the day I chose Israel, I swore an oath to the descendants of Jacob's house and made Myself known to them in the land of Egypt. I swore to them, saying: I am the Lord your God.
6 On that day I swore to them that I would bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land I had searched out for them, [a land] flowing with milk and honey, the most beautiful of all lands.
7 I also said to them: Each of you must throw away the detestable things that are before your eyes and not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.
8 "But they rebelled against Me and were unwilling to listen to Me. None of them threw away the detestable things that were before their eyes, and they did not forsake the idols of Egypt. So I considered pouring out My wrath on them, exhausting My anger against them within the land of Egypt.

Footnotes 3

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