Ezekiel 20:3

3 "Human, speak to the older leaders of Israel and say to them: 'This is what the Lord God says: Did you come to ask me questions? As surely as I live, I will not let you ask me questions.'

Ezekiel 20:3 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 20:3

Son of man, speak unto the elders of Israel, and say unto them,
&c.] Give them this for an answer from me: thus saith the Lord God, are ye come to inquire of me?
no; not seriously, heartily, and in good earnest, determining to abide by the advice and counsel that might be given; or how can you have the face to inquire of me, when guilty of such abominations? [as] I live, saith the Lord God, I will not be inquired of by you;
knowing their wickedness and hypocrisy, which were detestable to him, and therefore would not hear what they had to say, nor give them any answer, or direct them what they should do. Sad is the case of persons when the Lord will not be inquired of by them! it is plain he has no favours to bestow upon them; for, when he has, he will put them upon inquiring of him for them, to do them unto them, ( Ezekiel 36:37 ) ; this was the case of Saul, whom God, when he inquired of him, would not answer in any of his usual ways, ( 1 Samuel 28:6 ) .

Ezekiel 20:3 In-Context

1 It was the seventh year of our captivity, in the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month. Some of the older leaders of Israel came to ask about the Lord and sat down in front of me.

2 The Lord spoke his word to me, saying:

3 "Human, speak to the older leaders of Israel and say to them: 'This is what the Lord God says: Did you come to ask me questions? As surely as I live, I will not let you ask me questions.'

4 "Will you judge them? Will you judge them, human? Let them know the hateful things their ancestors did.

5 Say to them: 'This is what the Lord God says: When I chose Israel, I made a promise to the descendants of Jacob. I made myself known to them in Egypt, and I promised them, "I am the Lord your God."