Ezekiel 20:36

36 As I pleaded against your fathers in the desert of the land of Egypt; even so will I judge you, saith the Lord God.

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 And I will bring you out from the people, and I will gather you out of the countries, in which you are scattered, I will reign over you with a strong hand and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out.

35 And I will bring you into the wilderness of people, and there will I plead with you face to face.

36 As I pleaded against your fathers in the desert of the land of Egypt; even so will I judge you, saith the Lord God.

37 And I will make you subject to my sceptre, and will bring you into the bands of the covenant.

38 And I will pick out from among you the transgressors, and the wicked, and will bring them out of the land where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and you shall know that I am the Lord.