Ezekiel 20:36

36 As I strived in doom against your fathers in the desert of the land of Egypt, so I shall deem you, saith the Lord; (Like I pronounced judgement against your forefathers in the desert, or in the wilderness, in the land of Egypt, so now I shall judge you, saith the Lord;)

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 shall lead out you from peoples, and I shall gather you from lands, in which ye be scattered; in strong hand, and in arm stretched forth, and in strong vengeance shed out I shall reign on you. (And I shall lead you out from the peoples, or from the nations, and I shall gather you from the lands, in which ye be scattered; yea, with a strong hand, and an arm stretched forth, and with strong vengeance poured out I shall rule over you.)

35 And I shall bring you into desert of peoples, and I shall be deemed there with you face to face. (And I shall bring you into the wilderness of the nations, and I shall judge you there face to face.)

36 As I strived in doom against your fathers in the desert of the land of Egypt, so I shall deem you, saith the Lord; (Like I pronounced judgement against your forefathers in the desert, or in the wilderness, in the land of Egypt, so now I shall judge you, saith the Lord;)

37 and I shall make you subject to my sceptre, and I shall bring in you in the bonds of peace. (and I shall make you subject to my rod, or to my rule, and I shall bring you within, or make you obey, the covenant.)

38 And I shall choose of you trespassers, and wicked men (And I shall purge you of trespassers, and those who be wicked); and I shall lead them out of the land of their dwelling, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel; and ye shall know, that I am the Lord.