Bible Commentaries
Ezekiel 20

Verse 1

the seventh year. See the table on p. 1105.

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah , with 'eth (= Jehovah Himself). App-4 .

Verse 2

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah . App-4 .

Verse 3

Son of man. See note on Ezekiel 2:1 .

unto = with. Some codices, with one early printed edition, Aramaean, Septuagint, and Vulgate, read' unto".

the elders of Israel . In the Captivity; who were being deceived by false prophets who predicted a speedy return.

saith the Lord GOD = [is] Adonai Jehovah's oracle. See note on Ezekiel 2:4 .

Verse 4

Wilt thou . . . wilt thou . . . ? Note the Figure of speech Epizeuxis ( App-6 ), for emphasis.

Verse 5

when I chose Israel, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 6:7 ; Exodus 20:2 .Deuteronomy 7:6; Deuteronomy 7:6 ). App-92 . Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6 , for "I sware". Compare verses: Ezekiel 20:6 , Ezekiel 20:15 , Ezekiel 20:23 , Eze 6:28 , Eze 6:42 , Genesis 14:22 .Deuteronomy 32:40 . Used seven times in Ezekiel 20:0 .

made Myself known , &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 6:3 ),

Egypt . Ezekiel speaks about Israel in Egypt more than any other prophet. See Ezekiel 25:8 . In this chapter he mentions it seven times (verses: Ezekiel 20:5 , Ezekiel 20:6 , Ezekiel 20:7 , Ezekiel 5:8 , Ezekiel 5:8 , Ezekiel 5:9 , Ezekiel 5:10 ).

the Lord your God Jehovah ( App-4 .) your Elohim.

God. Hebrew. Elohim . App-4 .

Verse 6

the = that.

bring them forth , &c. Reference to Pentateuch, (Exodus 3:8 , Exodus 3:17 . Deuteronomy 8:7 , Deuteronomy 8:8 , Deuteronomy 8:9 ). App-92 .

espied = looked, or spied out,

flowing with milk and honey . Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 3:8 , Exodus 3:17 ; Exodus 13:5 ; Exodus 33:3 .Leviticus 20:24 Numbers 13:27 ; Numbers 14:8 ; Numbers 16:13 , Numbers 16:14 .Deuteronomy 6:3 ; Deuteronomy 11:9 ; Deuteronomy 11:26 , Deuteronomy 11:9 , Deuteronomy 11:15 ; Deuteronomy 27:3 ; Deuteronomy 31:20 ). Beside these passages it is found only in Ezekiel 20:6 , Ezekiel 20:15 .Joshua 5:4 .Jeremiah 11:5 ; Jeremiah 32:22 .

the glory = the gazelle. Put by Figure of speech metonymy (of Subject), App-6 ,

for "beauty ". Compare Ezekiel 20:15 .Psalms 48:2 .

Verse 7

every man. Heb . 'ish. App-14 .

abominations. Put by Figure of speech metonymy (of Cause, App-6 , for that which Jehovah abominated.

defile not yourselves , &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 18:3 ). App-92 .

idols = manufactured gods.

Verse 8

rebelled. See note on Ezekiel 2:5 .

pour out My fury , &c. Repeated in or Ezekiel 13:21 , Eze 13:33 , Eze 13:34 . See the Structure, p. 1131.

Verse 9

I wrought , &c. Repeated in no Ezekiel 14:22 , Eze 14:44 . Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 32:12 .Numbers 14:13 , &c.) App-92 .

heathen = nations.

Verse 10

I caused , &c, Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 13:0 , &c.) App-92 .

Verse 11

I gave them , &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 4:8 ).

statutes . . judgments. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 4:1 ).

which if a man do , &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 18:5 ). man. Hebrew. 'ditto , . App-14 .

do = do [them].

he shall . . . live . See note on Leviticus 18:5 .

Verse 12

I gave them, &c. Ref, to Pentateuch (Exodus 20:8 ; Exodus 31:13 ).

that they might know. Compare note on Ezekiel 6:10 .

Verse 13

than I said, I would, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Numbers 14:22 , Numbers 14:23 , Numbers 14:29 ; Eze 26:65 ). App-92 .

Verse 15

I would not bring them into , &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Numbers 14:32-33 ). App-92 . Compare Psalms 95:11 .

them. Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate read "to them" in the text.

Verse 16

their heart went, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 32:23 ).

Verse 18

I said , &c. Reference to Pentateuch, (Numbers 14:32 , Numbers 14:33 ; Numbers 32:13-15 .Deuteronomy 4:3-6; Deuteronomy 4:3-6 ), App-92 .

children = sons.

statutes, judgments. Like those of Omri (Micah 6:16 ). Compare Jeremiah 16:13 ,

Verse 20

ye may know. See note on Ezekiel 6:7 .

Verse 21

rebelled. Reference to Pentateuch (Numbers 25:1 , Numbers 25:2 .Deuteronomy 9:23 , Deuteronomy 9:24 ; Deuteronomy 31:27 ). App-92 .

they polluted My sabbaths. Some codices, with four early printed editions, add "even My sabbaths".

Verse 22

withdrew, &c. Idiom for a relaxing of anger or refraining from punishment.

Verse 23

I . Some codices, with three early printed editions, read "Yet even (or, also) I", as in Ezekiel 20:1

that I would scatter , &c. Ref to Pentateuch ( Lev 28:33 .Deuteronomy 28:64; Deuteronomy 28:64 ). App-92 . Compare Ezekiel 12:15 ,

Verse 25

I gave them also statutes , its. In Hebrew idiom = I suffered others to give them statutes, it,: i.e. in their captivity. Active verbs in Hebrew were used to express not only the doing of the thing, but the permission of the thing which the agent is said to do. The verb nathan, to give, is therefore often rendered to suffer in this sense. See Genesis 31:7 . Judges 15:1 . 1 Samuel 24:7 . 2 Samuel 21:10 . Where not so actually rendered it means permission. Compare Ezekiel 14:9 Exodus 4:21 ; Exodus 5:22 .Psalms 16:10 . Jeremiah 4:10 . The some idiom is used in N.T. (Matthew 6:13 ; Matthew 11:25 ; Matthew 13:11 .Romans 9:18 ; Romans 11:7 , Romans 11:8 ; 2 Thessalonians 2:11 ).

Verse 27

committed a trespass = trespassed a trespass. Figure of speech Polyptoton ( App-6 ), for emphasis = committed a great trespass.

trespass = treachery. Hebrew. ma'al. App-44 . As in Ezekiel 14:13 with Ezekiel 15:8 .

Verse 28

I polluted them , &c. See note on Ezekiel 20:25 . The con = trast is with their pollution of God's gifts (Ezekiel 20:16 ). pass through: or, pass over. The firstborn were to be passed over to Jehovah (Exodus 13:12 ); but they passed them (through the fire) over to Moloch (Leviticus 18:21 .Deuteronomy 18:10; Deuteronomy 18:10 ). Note the references to Pentateuch here. App-92 .

Verse 29

What is the high place . . . ? Note the Figure of speech Paronomasia ( App-6 ). Hebrew oath habhamdh, for emphasis, to mark the contrast between this idolatrous high place and Zion the true high and holy mountain (Ezekiel 20:40 ).

Verse 30

Are ge . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 .

Verse 31

your sons. Some codices, with two early printed editions, read "your sons and your daughters".

Verse 32

mind = spirit. Hebrew. ruach. App-9 .

Verse 33

with a mighty hand, he. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 4:34 , &c.)

will I rule = will I become king.

Verse 34

people = peoples.

Verse 35

the wilderness of the people. Probably another country which would be to them another wilderness in which they were tested as to whether they would hear.

Verse 36

Like as I pleaded , &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Numbers 14:21-23 , Numbers 14:28 , Numbers 14:29 ). App-92 . See also Ezekiel 20:13 and Ezekiel 20:38 .

Verse 37

pass under the rod. This was the manner of counting the sheep, which were numbered as they passed under the shepherd's club: implying here that none should be lost (Amos 9:9 ), and that the restored nation should be holy to Jehovah (Compare Ezekiel 20:40 ). Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 27:32 ). Occurs elsewhere only in Jeremiah 33:10 ).

bond = binding obligation. Occurs only here.

Verse 38

transgress . Hebrew. pasha '. App-44 ,

into the land of Israel = on the soil of Israel. Thus illustrating Ezekiel 20:36 . Hebrew ' atdmath . See note on Ezekiel 11:17 .

ye shall know, &c. See note on Ezekiel 6:7 .

Verse 39

Go ye, &c. Figure of speech Eironeia. App-6 , Divine irony.

every one = every man, as in verses: Ezekiel 20:20 , Ezekiel 20:7-8 .

but : or, yet. holy. See note on Exodus 3:5 .

Verse 40

in the mountain: i.e. Mcriah and Lion. See App-68 . Compare Isaiah 2:2 ; Isaiah 5:4 , Isaiah 5:1-7 ; Isaiah 62:1-9 ; Isaiah 65:17-25 ; Isaiah 66:20-23 .

require = seek.

offerings = heave offerings. Hebrew. terumah . App-43 .

firstfruite of your oblations: i.e. firstfruit gifts or presents. Hebrew. mas'eth . Not the same word as in Ch. Eze 44:45 , and it, which is terumah = heave offering.

Verse 43

ye shall lothe yourselves . Compare Ezekiel 16:61-63 .

evils. Same word as "wicked", Ezekiel 20:44 .

Verse 44

wicked. Hebrew. raa . App-44 .

Verse 46

the south = the Negeb. See note on Psalms 126:4 . against: or, unto. Some codices read "toward".

the south field : i.e. Judah and Jerusalem.

Verse 47

Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .

Verse 48

And all flesh shall see. See the Structure above. flesh. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of the Part), App-6 , for the whole person.

All flesh = all people, every one.

Verse 49

parables. Thus intended to have the same purpose as the Lord's parables. See Matthew 13:11 .