Ezekiel 20:36

36 Long ago, I judged your people in the desert of Egypt. In the same way, I will judge you," announces the LORD and King.

Ezekiel 20:36 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 20:36

Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the
land of Egypt
Which was opposite the land of Egypt, near unto it, on the borders of it; and into which the people immediately went, when they came out of Egypt, and passed the Red sea; and the Arabic version is,

``when I brought them out of the land of Egypt.''

This refers to the controversy the Lord had with the Israelites for murmuring upon the report of the spies; and the sentence he passed upon them, that they should not enter into the land of Canaan, but their carcasses should fall in the wilderness, ( Numbers 14:29 Numbers 14:30 ) : so will I plead with you, saith the Lord God;
take vengeance on them, as the Targum; who disbelieve the Messiah, reject him, and will not have him to reign over them; these are now punished, by a dispersion of them in the wilderness of the nations, where they die and perish, and see not their own land.

Ezekiel 20:36 In-Context

34 " ' "I will bring you back from the nations. I will gather you together from the countries where you have been scattered. I will reach out my mighty hand and powerful arm. I will pour my burning anger out on you.

35 I will send you among the nations. There I will judge you face to face. It will be as if I were judging you in the desert again.

36 Long ago, I judged your people in the desert of Egypt. In the same way, I will judge you," announces the LORD and King.

37 " ' "I will take note of you as you pass under my shepherd's rod. I will separate those who obey me from those who do not. And I will give the blessings of the new covenant to those of you who obey me.

38 I will get rid of those among you who turn against me and refuse to obey me. I will bring them out of the land where they are living. But they will not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord.