‏ Ezekiel 20

The Prophet Consulted by the Elders.

This section explains how some of the elders of Israel came to Ezekiel to ask for a message from God. It happened in the seventh year of their captivity, about two years after Ezekiel started his work as a prophet. The elders seemed to come with questions about what they should do now that they were living in Babylon, far from their temple and normal worship. It is likely they wanted to know if they could join in the worship of the Babylonians to make life easier for themselves. But their question was not sincere—they were really looking for an excuse to fit in with the people around them, even if it meant disobeying God. God sees through their hypocrisy and is not pleased with false devotion.

v. 1: In the seventh year, some of the elders of Israel came to Ezekiel and sat before him to ask about God’s will. They came respectfully and seemed serious, but their true intentions were not pure .

v. 2: The word of the Lord came to Ezekiel, showing that God was ready to answer, but not in the way the elders expected. God always knows the real reason behind our questions .

v. 3: God tells Ezekiel to say, As I live, saith the Lord God, I will not be enquired of by you . God refuses to answer them because their hearts are not right. They want permission to sin, not true guidance. God is not pleased with empty religious acts.

v. 4: God tells Ezekiel to judge the elders and show them how they and their ancestors have sinned. Cause them to know the abominations of their fathers . God wants them to understand that their present troubles are the result of a long history of turning away from him. This knowledge should lead them to true repentance, not just empty questions.

God's Gracious Dealings with Israel.

This passage begins a review of Israel’s history, starting from their time in Egypt. It shows how God was kind and generous to Israel right from the beginning, even though they often disobeyed him. God chose them, revealed himself to them, and made promises for their good. Israel’s story is like a picture of all humanity—God shows grace, but people often rebel. Despite this, God’s mercy continues, not because people deserve it, but because of his own goodness and commitment to his name.

v. 5: God reminds Israel that when they were slaves in Egypt, he chose them as his special people. He made himself known to them as Jehovah, and promised to be their God. He swore, I am the Lord your God . God also promised to rescue them from Egypt and bring them to a wonderful land, the glory of all lands (Deuteronomy 7:7-8 ^a).

v. 6: God brought Israel out of Egypt with a strong hand and planned to give them the land of Canaan, a place he had chosen for them. This land was rich and beautiful, a special blessing from God (Deuteronomy 8:7 ^b).

v. 7: God commanded the people to get rid of all their idols and not to worship the gods of Egypt. He told them, Cast away every man the abominations of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt: I am the Lord your God . God wanted his people to be different and faithful to him alone.

v. 8: But the Israelites did not obey. They rebelled and kept their idols, even while God was rescuing them. God could have destroyed them right away, but he was patient and did not pour out his anger on them immediately .

v. 9: Instead, God saved them for the sake of his own name. He did not want the other nations to think badly of him. God’s mercy was shown, even though the people did not deserve it. He acted so that his reputation among the nations would remain holy and respected .

Israel’s Rebellion in the Wilderness

This section describes how God brought the Israelites out of Egypt and gave them His laws, but the people rebelled against Him in the wilderness. God reminds them of His mercy and patience, even though they constantly disobeyed. The passage is a warning to remember God’s grace and not repeat the mistakes of the past.

v. 10: God says that He led the Israelites out of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness. He was with them, guiding them and caring for them after they escaped slavery .

v. 11: God gave them His statutes and showed them His judgments, so that if a person does them, he will live by them (If a man does them, he shall live by them;. God’s law was meant to bring life and blessing. He taught the Israelites how to live in a way that would please Him and lead to a good life.

v. 12: God gave the Israelites the Sabbath as a special sign between Him and them. The Sabbath was to remind them that God is the one who makes them holy . Keeping the Sabbath was a way to show their relationship with God and to remember His work in their lives.

v. 13: But the people of Israel rebelled against God in the wilderness. They did not follow His laws or keep His Sabbaths. They rejected God’s ways, even though His statutes were meant to give them life. Because of this, God became angry with them and threatened to destroy them in the wilderness .

v. 14: However, God acted for the sake of His name, so that it would not be dishonored among the nations. He did not destroy the Israelites completely, even though they deserved it. God wanted to show the nations that He is faithful and merciful .

v. 15: Still, God swore in His anger that He would not bring the older generation into the land He had promised—a land flowing with milk and honey, the most beautiful of all lands. This was the consequence of their rebellion .

v. 16: The reason for this punishment was that they rejected God’s laws, did not follow His ways, and made His Sabbaths unholy. Their hearts were set on their idols, not on God.

v. 17: Even so, God had compassion and did not completely destroy them or wipe them out in the wilderness . He showed mercy, even when they did not deserve it.

v. 18: God then warned the children of that generation not to follow the example of their fathers. He told them not to follow their parents’ sinful ways or defile themselves with idols .

v. 19: God told them, “I am the Lord your God; walk in My statutes, keep My judgments, and do them.” God wanted the new generation to obey Him and live differently from their parents.

v. 20: He again reminded them to keep His Sabbaths holy as a sign between them and Himself, so they would know that He is the Lord their God (Ezekiel 20:20 ^c).

Summary: In these verses, God reminds Israel how He brought them out of Egypt, gave them good laws, and set apart the Sabbath as a sign of their special relationship. However, the people rebelled and did not obey, so God punished them, but He also showed great mercy. God wants His people to learn from the past and be faithful to Him, keeping His laws and honoring the Sabbath as a sign of their relationship with Him.

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The Rebellions of Israel.

In this section, the prophet Ezekiel continues to tell the story of Israel’s repeated disobedience. Even after God’s patience and warnings, the people kept turning away from God. They ignored the lessons from the past and continued to sin, especially by worshipping idols. This history is told to humble the people and show why God’s judgment is just. Ezekiel also challenges the current generation, reminding them that they are following the same wrong path as their ancestors.

v. 27: God tells Ezekiel to remind the people how their ancestors kept rebelling, even after seeing the results of earlier sins. In this your fathers have blasphemed me, in that they have committed a trespass against me . This means they ignored God’s warnings and disrespected him by not learning from previous punishments.

v. 28: God had brought Israel into the land he promised, but the people quickly turned to idol worship. Instead of destroying idols as God commanded, they started making sacrifices on every high hill and under every thick tree. These offerings were supposed to honor God, but instead they provoked him, because they were made to false gods .

v. 29: God sent prophets to warn them and asked, What is the high place whereunto you go? But the people would not listen. The places they chose for idol worship kept their names as “high places” (Bamah) for a long time, showing how attached they were to their sinful ways .

v. 30: Ezekiel is told to ask the present generation if they are still following the same evil ways as their fathers. Are you polluted after the manner of your fathers? And commit you whoredom after their abominations? . This is a warning that God sees them repeating the same sins of idolatry and injustice.

v. 31: God says that as long as the people continue to worship idols, he will not listen to their prayers. As I live, saith the Lord God, I will not be enquired of by you . God wants His people to be sincere, not just pretending to worship while still loving idols in their hearts.

v. 32: God tells them that their plan to blend in with the nations and adopt their ways will not work. That which comes into your mind shall not be at all, that you say, We will be as the heathen, as the families of the countries, to serve wood and stone . God will not let His people succeed by compromising with sin. True safety and blessing only come from faithfully following Him.

The Sins of Israel.

This section addresses the sinful plans of the elders of Israel, who wanted to abandon their unique identity as God’s people and conform to the nations around them. They thought they could gain safety and acceptance by blending in with the surrounding cultures. However, God declares that their plan will fail. Instead of finding refuge, they will face judgment for their rebellion. God will separate the faithful from the rebellious and restore those who repent, all for the sake of his holy name.

v. 33: God declares that he will rule over Israel, whether in mercy or judgment. As I live, saith the Lord God, surely with a mighty hand, and with a stretched-out arm, and with fury poured out, will I rule over you . This shows that no one can escape God’s authority, and those who reject his grace will face his wrath.

v. 34: God promises to gather the Israelites from the nations where they are scattered. However, this gathering is not for their comfort but for judgment. I will bring you out of the countries wherein you are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with a stretched-out arm . This is a warning that God will hold them accountable for their sins.

v. 35: God says he will bring them into the “wilderness of the people” to plead with them face to face. This is similar to how he dealt with their ancestors in the wilderness after leaving Egypt. I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face . This shows that God will confront them directly about their rebellion.

v. 36: Just as God judged their ancestors in the wilderness, he will judge this generation. Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you . This reminds them that God’s justice is consistent and unavoidable.

v. 37: God will separate the faithful from the rebellious. I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant . This imagery of passing under the rod refers to a shepherd counting and examining his sheep, showing that God will carefully judge each person.

v. 38: God will purge the rebels from among his people. I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me . These individuals will not enter the land of Israel or share in God’s blessings. This separation highlights the seriousness of rebellion against God.

v. 39: God tells the people to choose whom they will serve. If they insist on worshipping idols, they should do so openly, but they must stop pretending to honor God. Go you, serve every one his idols, and hereafter also, if you will not hearken unto me . God will not accept hypocritical worship that mixes devotion to him with idolatry.

v. 40: God promises that those who remain faithful will worship him in the land of Israel. In mine holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel, saith the Lord God, there shall all the house of Israel serve me . This is a vision of restoration and true worship.

v. 41: God will accept the offerings of his people and take pleasure in their worship. I will accept you with your sweet savour . This shows that God delights in sincere worship and obedience.

v. 42: When God restores his people to their land, they will know that he is the Lord. You shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall bring you into the land of Israel . This restoration will be a testimony to God’s faithfulness.

v. 43: The people will remember their sins and feel deep sorrow for how they have treated God. There shall you remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein you have been defiled; and you shall loathe yourselves . True repentance involves recognizing the seriousness of sin and turning away from it.

v. 44: God will act for the sake of his name, not because the people deserve it. I have wrought with you for my name's sake, not according to your wicked ways . This shows that God’s mercy is based on his character, not human merit.

Judgment and Mercy.

This passage gives a prophecy about God’s coming judgment on Judah and Jerusalem. Ezekiel uses a parable about a forest to describe the people and their leaders. Though this message is one of warning and wrath, God’s words are still spoken gently, with a hope that people will listen and turn back to him. The forest represents Judah and Jerusalem, once full of people but now empty of true spiritual fruit. God’s judgment is pictured as a fire that will burn everything, showing that no one can escape unless they repent. Even when God warns of destruction, he does so with care, hoping people will change.

v. 45: The word of the Lord comes to Ezekiel with a new message. This prophecy is separate from the earlier ones and is meant to warn Judah and Jerusalem about what will soon happen .

v. 46: Ezekiel is told to turn toward the south and speak against the “forest of the south field.” This means he should prophesy against Judah and Jerusalem, warning that God’s anger is aimed at them. Even though the message is hard, Ezekiel is told to let his words “drop” gently, like rain, so that the people might listen and change .

v. 47: God says he will start a fire in this forest, and it will burn both green trees and dry ones. This fire represents all the disasters—war, famine, disease, and captivity—that will come on Judah. Everyone will be affected, both the good and the bad. The fire will reach from the south to the north, meaning the whole land will suffer .

v. 48: God says that all people will see that it is he who has set this fire. All flesh shall see that I the Lord have kindled it; it shall not be quenched . This means the judgment will be obvious to everyone, and nothing will be able to stop it.

v. 49: The people respond by saying that Ezekiel is speaking in parables, meaning they do not understand or want to believe what he says. Ezekiel brings this complaint to God. Even when people reject God’s warnings, the prophet can bring his troubles to the Lord (Ezekiel 20:49 ^d).