Ezekiel 20:15

15 So I made a vow in the desert that I would not take them to the land I had given them, a rich and fertile land, the finest land of all. ¹

Ezekiel 20:15 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 20:15

Yet also I lifted up mine hand unto them in the wilderness,
&c.] Swore unto them, as in ( Ezekiel 20:5 Ezekiel 20:6 ) ; that I would not bring them into the land which I had given [them];
by promise to their fathers, and to them. This is to be understood of the generation that came out of Egypt, that received the ill report the spies made, and murmured against the Lord; wherefore he swore in his wrath that they should not enter into his rest; or he would not bring them into the land of Canaan, save Caleb and Joshua; and accordingly none else entered but them, though their posterity did; and so both his oath to them, that they should not enter, and his oath to Abraham, that he would give to his seed the land, had their accomplishment, ( Numbers 14:23 Numbers 14:24 Numbers 14:30 ) ; a land flowing with milk and honey, which [is] the glory of all lands;
(See Gill on Ezekiel 20:6).

Ezekiel 20:15 In-Context

13 But even in the desert they defied me. They broke my laws and rejected my commands, which bring life to anyone who obeys them. They completely profaned the Sabbath. I was ready to let them feel the force of my anger there in the desert and to destroy them.

14 But I did not, since that would have brought dishonor to my name among the nations which had seen me lead Israel out of Egypt.

15 So I made a vow in the desert that I would not take them to the land I had given them, a rich and fertile land, the finest land of all.

16 I made the vow because they had rejected my commands, broken my laws, and profaned the Sabbath - they preferred to worship their idols.

17 "But then I took pity on them. I decided not to kill them there in the desert.

Cross References

• 1. 20.15Numbers 14.26-35.