Ezekiel 20

1 And it was done in the seventh year, in the fifth month, in the tenth day of the month (on the tenth day of the month), men of the elders of Israel came to ask the Lord; and they sat before me.
2 And the word of the Lord was made to me, and he said,
3 Son of man, speak thou to the elder men of Israel; and thou shalt say to them, The Lord God saith these things, Whether ye came to ask me? I live, for I shall not answer to you, saith the Lord God. (Son of man, speak thou to the elders of Israel; and thou shalt say to them, The Lord God saith these things, Did ye come here to ask me something? As I live, I shall not answer you, saith the Lord God.)
4 Son of man, if thou deemest them, if thou deemest, show thou to them the abominations of their fathers. (Son of man, if thou judgest them, yea, if thou judgest them, show thou to them their forefathers? abominations.)
5 And thou shalt say to them, The Lord God saith these things, In the day in which I chose Israel, and raised mine hand for the generation of the house of Jacob, and I appeared to them in the land of Egypt, and I raised mine hand for them, and I said, I am your Lord God, (And thou shalt say to them, The Lord God saith these things, On the day on which I chose Israel, and raised up my hand for the descendants of the house of Jacob, and I appeared to them in the land of Egypt, and I raised up my hand for them, and I said, I am the Lord your God,)
6 in that day I raised mine hand for them, that I should lead them out of the land of Egypt (on that day that I raised up my hand for them, that I would lead them out of the land of Egypt), into the land which I had purveyed for them, a land flowing with milk and honey, which is noble among all lands.
7 And I said to them, Each man cast away the offences of his eyes, and do not ye be defouled in the idols of Egypt; I am your Lord God. (And I said to them, Each person throw away the abominations before his eyes, and do not ye be defiled with the idols of Egypt; I am the Lord your God.)
8 And they stirred me to wrath, and would not hear me; each man casted not away the abominations of his eyes, neither they forsook the idols of Egypt. And I said, that I would shed out mine indignation on them, and [ful]fill my wrath in them, in the midst of the land of Egypt. (And they stirred me to anger, and would not listen to me; each person did not throw away the abominations before their eyes, nor did they abandon the idols of Egypt. And I said, that I would pour out my indignation upon them, and fulfill my anger against them, in the midst of the land of Egypt.)
9 And I did for my name, that it should not be defouled before heathen men, in the midst of whom they were, and among whom I appeared to them, that I should lead them out of the land of Egypt. (And I did it for the sake of my name, so that it would not be defiled before the heathen, in the midst of whom they were, and among whom I appeared to them, so that I could lead them out of the land of Egypt.)
10 Therefore I casted them out of the land of Egypt, and I led them out into desert; (And so I brought them out of the land of Egypt, and I led them out into the desert, or into the wilderness;)
11 and I gave to them my commandments, and I showed to them my dooms, which a man shall do, and live in those. (and I gave them my commandments, and I showed them, or I taught them, my laws, which a person shall do, and shall live because of them.)
12 Furthermore and I gave to them my sabbaths, that it should be a sign betwixt me and them, and that they should know, that I am the Lord hallowing them. (And furthermore I gave them my sabbaths, so that they would be a sign between me and them, and so that they would know, that I am the Lord who maketh them holy.)
13 And the house of Israel stirred me to wrath in desert; they went not in my commandments, and they casted away my dooms, which a man that doeth, shall live in those; and they defouled greatly my sabbaths. Therefore I said, that I would shed out my strong vengeance on them in desert, and waste them; (And the house of Israel stirred me to anger in the wilderness; they went not in my commandments, and they threw away my laws, which a person who doeth them, shall live in them; and they greatly defiled my sabbaths. And so I said, that I would pour out my strong vengeance upon them in the wilderness, and destroy them;)
14 and I did for my name, lest it were defouled before heathen men, from whom I casted them out in the sight of those. (and I did it for the sake of my name, lest it were defiled before the heathen, from whom I brought them out in their sight.)
15 Therefore I raised mine hand on them in the desert, that I brought not them into the land which I gave to them, the land flowing with milk and honey, the best of all lands. (And so I raised up my hand before them in the wilderness, and said that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, the land flowing with milk and honey, yea, the best of all lands.)
16 For they casted away my dooms, and went not in my commandments, and they defouled my sabbaths; for the heart of them went after idols. (For they threw away my laws, and went not in my commandments, and they defiled my sabbaths; for their hearts went after idols.)
17 And mine eyes spared on them, that I killed not them, neither I wasted them in the desert. (And my eyes spared them, so that I did not kill them, and I did not destroy them in the wilderness.)
18 Forsooth I said to the sons of them in wilderness, Do no ye go in the commandments of your fathers, neither keep ye the dooms of them, neither be ye defouled in the idols of them. (For I said to them in the wilderness, Do no ye go in the commandments of your forefathers, neither keep ye, or obey ye, their laws, nor be ye defiled with their idols.)
19 I am your Lord God, go ye in my commandments, and keep ye my dooms, and do ye those. (I am the Lord your God, go ye in my commandments, and keep ye, or obey ye, my laws, and do ye them.)
20 And hallow ye my sabbaths, that it be a sign betwixt me and you, and that it be known, that I am your Lord God. (And make ye holy my sabbaths, so that it be a sign between me and you, and so that it be known, that I am the Lord your God.)
21 And the sons stirred me to wrath, and went not in my commandments, and kept not my dooms, that they did those, which when a man hath done, he shall live in those, and they defouled my sabbaths. And I menaced to them that I would shed out my strong vengeance on them, and [ful]fill my wrath in them in the desert. (But they stirred me to anger, and went not in my commandments, and kept not, or obeyed not, my laws, so that they did them, which when a person hath done them, he shall live in them, and they defiled my sabbaths. And I threatened them that I would pour out my strong vengeance upon them, and fulfill my anger against them in the wilderness.)
22 But I turned away mine hand, and I did this for my name, that it were not defouled before heathen men, from which I casted them out before the eyes of those. (But I turned away my hand, and I did this for the sake of my name, so that it was not defiled before the heathen, from whom I brought them out before their eyes.)
23 Again I raised (up) mine hand against them in (the) wilderness, that I should scatter them into (the) nations, and winnow them into (other) lands;
24 for that that they had not done my dooms, and had reproved my commandments, and had defouled my sabbaths, and their eyes had been (longing) after the idols of their fathers. (because they had not followed my laws, and had rejected my commandments, and had defiled my sabbaths, and their eyes had been longing after their forefathers? idols.)
25 Therefore and I gave to them commandments (that were) not good, and dooms in which they shall not live. (And so I gave them commandments that were not good, and laws that would not bring them life.)
26 And I defouled them in their gifts (And I let them defile themselves with their gifts), when they offered to me for their trespasses all thing that openeth the womb; and (so) they shall know, that I am the Lord.
27 Wherefore speak thou, son of man, to the house of Israel, and thou shalt say to them, The Lord God saith these things, Yet and in this your fathers blasphemed me, when they despising had forsaken me (And yet in this your forefathers blasphemed me, when they despising me had deserted me),
28 and I had brought them into the land on which I raised (up) mine hand, that I should give [it] to them, they saw each high little hill, and each tree full of boughs, and they offered there their sacrifices, and they gave there their offerings, into stirring (me) to wrath; and they set there the odour of their sweetness, and they offered their moist sacrifices (and they set forth their offerings of sweet aroma, and they offered their wine offerings).
29 And I said to them, What is the high thing, to which ye enter? And the name thereof is called High Thing till to this day. (And I said to them, What is the high place, or the hill shrine, to which ye enter? And its name is called High Place/Hill Shrine, or Bamah, unto this day.)
30 Therefore say thou to the house of Israel, The Lord God saith these things, Certainly ye be defouled in the way of your fathers, and ye do fornication after the offendings of them, (And so say thou to the house of Israel, The Lord God saith these things, Truly ye be defiled in the ways of your forefathers, and ye do fornication, or idolatry, after their abominations,)
31 and in the offering of your gifts, when ye led over your sons by fire, ye be defouled in all your idols till today, and shall I answer to you, the house of Israel? I live, saith the Lord God, for I shall not answer to you; (and in the offering of your gifts, when ye led your sons and your daughters through the fire, ye be defiled with all your idols unto this day, and so shall I answer you, O house of Israel? As I live, saith the Lord God, I shall not answer you;)
32 neither the thought of your soul shall be done, that say, We shall be as heathen men, and as [the] nations of earth, that we worship trees and stones. (nor shall the thoughts of your souls be done, that say, We shall be like the heathen, and like the nations of the earth, so that we worship wood and stones.)
33 (As) I live, saith the Lord God, for in strong hand, and in arm stretched forth, and in strong vengeance shed out, I shall reign [up]on you (I shall rule over you).
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.
39 And ye, the house of Israel, the Lord God saith these things, Go ye each man after your idols, and serve ye those. That and if ye hear not me in this, and defoul more mine holy name in your gifts, and in your idols, (And ye, O house of Israel, the Lord God saith these things, Go ye each person after your idols, and serve ye them. But if ye do not listen to me, or obey me, in this, and more defile my holy name with your gifts, and with your idols,)
40 in mine holy hill, in the high hill of Israel, saith the Lord God, ye shall be punished grievouslier. There all the house of Israel shall serve me, soothly all men in the land (truly all those in the land), in which they shall please me; and there I shall seek your first fruits, and the beginning of your tithes in all your hallowings.
41 I shall receive you into odour of sweetness (I shall receive your offerings of sweet aroma), when I shall lead you out of (the) peoples, and shall gather you from (the) lands, in which ye were scattered; and I shall be hallowed in you before the eyes of the nations.
42 And ye shall know, that I am the Lord, when I shall bring you into the land of Israel, into the land for which I raised (up) mine hand, that I should give it to your fathers (that I would give it to your forefathers).
43 And ye shall have mind there on your ways, and on all your great trespasses, by which ye be defouled in those; and ye shall displease you in your sight, in all your malices which ye did. (And ye shall remember there your ways, and all your great trespasses, by which ye be defiled in them; and ye shall displease yourselves in your own sight, with all your malices which ye did.)
44 And ye shall know, that I am the Lord, when I shall do well to you for my name (when I shall do well with you for the sake of my name); (and) not by your evil ways, neither by your worst trespasses, ye house of Israel, saith the Lord God.
45 And the word of the Lord was made to me, and he said,
46 Thou, son of man, set thy face against the way of the south, and drop thou (thy word) to the south, and prophesy thou to the forest of the midday, [or south,] field. (Thou, son of man, set thy face toward the way of the south, and drop thou thy word to the south, and prophesy thou to the forest of the south, or to the Negeb.)
47 And thou shalt say to the midday, [or south(ern),] forest, Hear thou the word of the Lord. The Lord God saith these things, Lo! I shall kindle a fire in thee, and I shall burn in thee each green tree, and each dry tree; the flame of burning shall not be quenched, and each face shall be burnt therein, from the south till to the north. (And thou shalt say to the southern forest, or to the Negeb, Hear thou the word of the Lord. The Lord God saith these things, Lo! I shall kindle a fire in thee, and I shall burn each green tree, and each dry tree, in thee; the flame of burning shall not be quenched, and each face shall be burned there, from the south unto the north.)
48 And each man shall see (And each person shall see), that I the Lord have kindled it, and it shall not be quenched.
49 And I said, A! A! A! Lord God, they say of me, Whether this man speaketh not by parables? (And I said, O! O! O! Lord God, they say of me, Speaketh this man only by parables?)

Ezekiel 20 Commentary

Chapter 20

The elders of Israel are reminded of the idolatry in Egypt. (1-9) In the wilderness. (10-26) In Canaan. (27-32) God promises to pardon and restore them. (33-44) Prophecy against Jerusalem. (45-49)

1-9. Those hearts are wretchedly hardened which ask God leave to go on in sin, and that even when suffering for it; see ver. ( 32 ) . God is justly angry with those who are resolved to go on still in their trespasses. Cause the people to know the evil deeds of their fathers, that they may see how righteous it was with God to cut them off.

10-26. The history of Israel in the wilderness is referred to in the new Testament as well as in the Old, for warning. God did great things for them. He gave them the law, and revived the ancient keeping of the sabbath day. Sabbaths are privileges; they are signs of our being his people. If we do the duty of the day, we shall find, to our comfort, it is the Lord that makes us holy, that is, truly happy, here; and prepares us to be happy, that is, perfectly holy, hereafter. The Israelites rebelled, and were left to the judgments they brought upon themselves. God sometimes makes sin to be its own punishment, yet he is not the Author of sin: there needs no more to make men miserable, than to give them up to their own evil desires and passions.

Verses 27-32 The Jews persisted in rebellion after they settled in the land of Canaan. And these elders seem to have thought of uniting with the heathen. We make nothing by our profession if it be but a profession. There is nothing got by sinful compliances; and the carnal projects of hypocrites will stand them in no stead.

Verses 33-44 The wicked Israelites, notwithstanding they follow the sinful ways of other nations, shall not mingle with them in their prosperity, but shall be separated from them for destruction. There is no shaking off God's dominion; and those who will not yield to the power of his grace, shall sink under the power of his wrath. But not one of God's jewels shall be lost in the lumber of this world. He will bring the jews to the land of Israel again; and will give them true repentance. They will be overcome with his kindness: the more we know of God's holiness, the more we see the hateful nature of sin. Those who remain unaffected amidst means of grace, and would live without Christ, like the world around them, may be sure it is the way to destruction.

Verses 45-49 Judah and Jerusalem had been full of people, as a forest of trees, but empty of fruit. God's word prophesies against those who bring not forth the fruits of righteousness. When He will ruin a nation, who or what can save it? The plainest truths were as parables to the people. It is common for those who will not be wrought upon by the word, to blame it.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO EZEKIEL 20

The prophecy in this chapter is occasioned by some of the elders of Israel coming to inquire of the Lord; when the prophet is bid to tell them that he would not be inquired of by them. The reason of which were their abominations he is ordered to make known unto them, Eze 20:1-4; and then proceeds the narration of them; first of what their fathers committed in Egypt; of God's goodness to them, and their ingratitude; how that though he promised and swore that he would bring them from thence, when he charged them to abstain from the idolatry of that people where they were, nevertheless they did not, for which he threatened them with his wrath to consume them; yet such was his goodness as to spare them, and bring them out of that land, Eze 20:5-9; being brought out of Egypt into the wilderness, the Lord gave them statutes and ordinances to observe, particularly sabbaths, as a sign between him and them, but these they despised and broke; wherefore the Lord threatened to consume them in the wilderness, and not bring them into the land of Canaan; yet such was his kindness and mercy to them, that he did not make an utter end of them in the wilderness, Eze 20:10-17; and whereas he exhorted their posterity not to imitate their parents, but to walk in his statutes and judgments, and observe his sabbaths, yet they would not; which drew out his resentment against them, and he threatened to scatter them among the Heathens; but, for his name's sake, that that might not be polluted among the heathen, he spared them, and did not cut them off, only gave them up to do things very pernicious to them, Eze 20:18-26; and even when they were brought into the land of Canaan, they were guilty of blasphemy against God, and of idolatry on every high hill they saw, Eze 20:27-29; but whereas it might be objected, what is all this to the present generation? it is observed, that they imitated their fathers, and were guilty of the same idolatries, and therefore the Lord would not be inquired of by them, Eze 20:30,31; and threatens to rule them with fury, and plead with them, as he had pleaded with their fathers in the wilderness, Eze 20:32-36; nevertheless he suggests that there would be a remnant among them, when he should have purged the rebels and transgressors from them, that he would deal graciously with in a covenant way; who should serve him in his holy mountain, where he would require and accept their sacrifices, in whom he would be sanctified; and who should know him, and loathe themselves, when made sensible of the distinguishing favours bestowed upon them, Eze 20:37-44; and the chapter is closed with a prophecy dropped against Jerusalem, denouncing utter destruction on it, Eze 20:45-49.

reign, and of the captivity of Jeconiah; from whence the dates of Ezekiel's visions and prophecies are taken, Eze 1:2, 8:1; two years, one month, and five days, after Ezekiel began to prophesy, and eleven months and five days after the preceding prophecy:

\\in the fifth [month], the tenth [day] of the month\\; the month Ab, which answers to our July and August; on this day afterwards Jerusalem was twice destroyed, first by the Chaldeans, and then by the Romans:

\\[that] certain of the elders of Israel came to inquire of the Lord\\; by the prophet; these were either some of the elders that were carried captive, who came to inquire how long they should continue in this state; or what methods they should use to free themselves from it; or what they should do while they were in it; whether it would be advisable that they should conform to the customs of the Heathens among whom they were; or what would be the case of those that were left in Judea: or else these were sent by Zedekiah to pay the king of Babylon his tax, or to negotiate some affair with him relating to the captives; and who took this opportunity of consulting the Lord by the prophet what methods should be taken to throw off the yoke, and to know what was the mind of God in it; but these things are uncertain, as are also the persons the inquirers; though the Jews say {e} they were Ananias, Azarias, and Misael; which is not probable, since they were good men, whereas these seem to be hypocritical persons:

\\and sat before me\\; with great seriousness and devotion seemingly, waiting for an answer.

{e} Seder Olam Rabba apud Abarbinel in loc.

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Ezekiel 20 Commentaries

Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.