1.
And it came to pass in the seventh year, in the fifth month, the tenth day of the month, that certain of the elders of Israel came to inquire of the LORD, and sat before me.
the seventh year. See the table on p. 1105.
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah , with 'eth (= Jehovah Himself). App-4 .
2.
Then came the word of the LORD unto me, saying,
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah . App-4 .
3.
Son of man, speak unto the elders of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Are ye come to inquire of me? As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will not be inquired of by you.
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 .
4.
Wilt thou judge them, son of man, wilt thou judge them? cause them to know the abominations of their fathers:
Wilt thou . . . wilt thou . . . ? Note the Figure of speech Epizeuxis ( App-6 ), for emphasis.
5.
And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day when I chose Israel, and lifted up mine hand unto the seed of the house of Jacob, and made myself known unto them in the land of Egypt, when I lifted up mine hand unto them, saying, I am the LORD your God;
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 .
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 .
6.
In the day that I lifted up mine hand unto them, to bring them forth of the land of Egypt into a land that I had espied for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands:
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 .
7.
Then said I unto them, Cast ye away every man the abominations of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.
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.
8.
But they rebelled against me, and would not hearken unto me: they did not every man cast away the abominations of their eyes, neither did they forsake the idols of Egypt: then I said, I will pour out my fury upon them to accomplish my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.
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.
9.
But I wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, among whom they were, in whose sight I made myself known unto them, in bringing them forth out of the land of Egypt.
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.
10.
Wherefore I caused them to go forth out of the land of Egypt, and brought them into the wilderness.
I caused , &c, Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 13 , &c.) App-92 .
11.
And I gave them my statutes, and shewed them my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them.
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 .
12.
Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD that sanctify them.
I gave them, &c. Ref, to Pentateuch (Exodus 20:8 ; Exodus 31:13 ).
that they might know. Compare note on Ezekiel 6:10 .
13.
But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness: they walked not in my statutes, and they despised my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; and my sabbaths they greatly polluted: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them in the wilderness, to consume them.
than I said, I would, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Numbers 14:22 , Numbers 14:23 , Numbers 14:29 ; Eze 26:65 ). App-92 .
14.
But I wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, in whose sight I brought them out.
15.
Yet also I lifted up my hand unto them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands;
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.
16.
Because they despised my judgments, and walked not in my statutes, but polluted my sabbaths: for their heart went after their idols.
their heart went, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 32:23 ).
17.
Nevertheless mine eye spared them from destroying them, neither did I make an end of them in the wilderness.
18.
But I said unto their children in the wilderness, Walk ye not in the statutes of your fathers, neither observe their judgments, nor defile yourselves with their idols:
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 ,
19.
I am the LORD your God; walk in my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them;
20.
And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the LORD your God.
ye may know. See note on Ezekiel 6:7 .
21.
Notwithstanding the children rebelled against me: they walked not in my statutes, neither kept my judgments to do them, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; they polluted my sabbaths: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness.
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".
22.
Nevertheless I withdrew mine hand, and wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted in the sight of the heathen, in whose sight I brought them forth.
withdrew, &c. Idiom for a relaxing of anger or refraining from punishment.
23.
I lifted up mine hand unto them also in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the heathen, and disperse them through the countries;
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 ,
24.
Because they had not executed my judgments, but had despised my statutes, and had polluted my sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers' idols.
25.
Wherefore I gave them also statutes that were not good, and judgments whereby they should not live;
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 ).
26.
And I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused to pass through the fire all that openeth the womb, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I am the LORD.
27.
Therefore, son of man, speak unto the house of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Yet in this your fathers have blasphemed me, in that they have committed a trespass against me.
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 .
28.
For when I had brought them into the land, for the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to them, then they saw every high hill, and all the thick trees, and they offered there their sacrifices, and there they presented the provocation of their offering: there also they made their sweet savour, and poured out there their drink offerings.
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 .
29.
Then I said unto them, What is the high place whereunto ye go? And the name thereof is called Bamah unto this day.
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 ).
30.
Wherefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Are ye polluted after the manner of your fathers? and commit ye whoredom after their abominations?
Are ge . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 .
31.
For when ye offer your gifts, when ye make your sons to pass through the fire, ye pollute yourselves with all your idols, even unto this day: and shall I be inquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will not be inquired of by you.
your sons. Some codices, with two early printed editions, read "your sons and your daughters".
32.
And that which cometh into your mind shall not be at all, that ye say, We will be as the heathen, as the families of the countries, to serve wood and stone.
mind = spirit. Hebrew. ruach. App-9 .
33.
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:
with a mighty hand, he. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 4:34 , &c.)
will I rule = will I become king.
34.
And I will bring you out from the people, and will gather you out of the countries wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out.
people = peoples.
35.
And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face.
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.
36.
Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith the Lord GOD.
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 .
37.
And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant:
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.
38.
And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
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 .
39.
As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith the Lord GOD; Go ye, serve ye every one his idols, and hereafter also, if ye will not hearken unto me: but pollute ye my holy name no more with your gifts, and with your idols.
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 .
40.
For in mine holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, there shall all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, serve me: there will I accept them, and there will I require your offerings, and the firstfruits of your oblations, with all your holy things.
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.
41.
I will accept you with your sweet savour, when I bring you out from the people, and gather you out of the countries wherein ye have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you before the heathen.
42.
And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall bring you into the land of Israel, into the country for the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to your fathers.
43.
And there shall ye remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein ye have been defiled; and ye shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that ye have committed.
ye shall lothe yourselves . Compare Ezekiel 16:61-63 .
evils. Same word as "wicked", Ezekiel 20:44 .
44.
And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have wrought with you for my name's sake, not according to your wicked ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, O ye house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.
wicked. Hebrew. raa . App-44 .
45.
Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
46.
Son of man, set thy face toward the south, and drop thy word toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the south field;
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.
47.
And say to the forest of the south, Hear the word of the LORD; Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour every green tree in thee, and every dry tree: the flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be burned therein.
Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .
48.
And all flesh shall see that I the LORD have kindled it: it shall not be quenched.
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.
49.
Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! they say of me, Doth he not speak parables?
parables. Thus intended to have the same purpose as the Lord's parables. See Matthew 13:11 .