Ezekiel

Ezekiel 20 ©

1 God refuseth to be consulted by the elders of Israel: 4 he rehearseth the rebellions of their ancestors in Egypt, 13 in the wilderness, 27 and in the promised land: 30 he reproacheth the present generation with the like corrupt manners. 33 He threateneth to rule over them with rigour, but with promise to gather them, to purge out the rebels, and accept the services of the faithful in his church. 45 The destruction of Jerusalem prophesied under the name of a forest.

1

AND it came to pass in the aseventh year, in the fifth month, the tenth day of the month, that certain of bthe elders of Israel came cto enquire of the LORD, and dsat before me.

a ch. 1.2; 8.2; 24.1; 26.1; 29.1,17; 30.20; 31.1; 32.1; 40.1.
b ch. 8.1; 14.1.
c ch. 14.3. 1Ki. 22.15. Is. 58.2; 29.13. Mat. 22.16. ch. 33.30.
d ch. 33.31,32. Lu. 10.39. Ac. 22.3.
2

Then came the word of the LORD unto me, saying,

3

Son of man, speak unto the elders of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Are ye come to enquire of me? As eI live, saith the Lord GOD, I will not be enquired of by you.

e ch. 14.1,3,4,7,8. Pr. 10.29; 11.20; 15.8; 28.9; 21.27. Mi. 3.7. Is. 1.15. Jn. 4.24.
4

Wilt fthou 1judge them, son of man, wilt thou judge them ? gcause them to know the abominations of their fathers:

f ch. 22.2; 23.36. Je. 5.28.
g Is. 58.1. ch. 16.2; 22.2. Mi. 3.8. Mat. 23.32.
5

¶And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day when hI chose Israel, and 2lifted up mine hand unto the seed of the house of Jacob, and imade myself known unto them in the land of Egypt, when I lifted up mine hand unto them, saying, jI am the LORD your God;

h De. 4.37; 7.6. Ex. 6.7.
i Ex. 3.8; 4.31. De. 4.34,35; 11.2.
j Ge. 17.7. Ex. 3.6,16; 19.5,6; 15.26; 20.2,3.
6

In the day that kI lifted up mine hand unto them, to lbring them forth of the land of Egypt into a land that I had mespied for them, nflowing with milk and honey, which is the oglory of all lands:

k v.5,15,23,42.
l De. 8.7. Ge. 15.13,14. Ex. 1-14. Ps. 78; 105; 114; 135; 136. Ne. 9. De. 4; 11. Ac. 7.
m De. 11.10,12; 32.8; 1.33. Nu. 10.33. He. 11.9.
n Ex. 3.8. Je. 32.22. Ge. 26.12. Mat. 13.8.
o Ps. 48.2; 76.1; 106.24. De. 8.7; 32.13. Da. 8.9; 11.16. v.15. Zec. 7.14.
7

Then said I unto them, pCast ye away every man the abominations of his eyes, and qdefile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.

p ch. 18.6,15,31. 2Ch. 15.8.
q ch. 23.3,8. Le. 17.7; 18.3. De. 29.16-18. Jos. 24.14.
8

But they rrebelled 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, sI will pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.

r Jn. 2.12-15. 1Ki. 11.5-8. 2Ki. 21.3. Ne. 9.16. Ex. 6.9.
s 2Ki. 22.16,17. v.13. Nu. 14.29. Ps. 106.23. ch. 5.13; 7.8.
9

But tI wrought ufor 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.

t v.14,11,22,24,39. ch. 36.21,22; 39.7. De. 9.28. Jos. 7.9. 1Sa. 12.22. Ex. 32.14. Nu. 14.13-19. Is. 48.11.
u Ne. 9.10. Ps. 106.8. Is. 63.14.
10

¶Wherefore vI caused them to go forth out of the land of Egypt, and brought them into the wilderness.

v Ex. 13.18,20; 20.2; 14.22. De. 4.20.
11

And wI 3gave them my statutes, and shewed them my judgments, xwhich if a man do, he shall even live in them.

w Ne. 9.13,14. Ex. 15 to De. 32. De. 4.8. Ps. 147.19,20. Ro. 3.2.
x Le. 18.5; 19.3,30. De. 30.15; 27.26. Ro. 10.5. Mat. 19.17. Ga. 3.12. Ps. 19.11. v.13,21.
12

Moreover also I gave them my ysabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that zI am the LORD that sanctify them.

y Ex. 20.8,9; 31.13,17; 35.2. De. 5.12. Le. 23. Nu. 28; 29. Ne. 9.14.
z Le. 20.8; 21.23. Ex. 19.5,6. 1Th. 5.23. 1Co. 1.30.
13

But the house of Israel arebelled 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 bmy sabbaths they greatly polluted: then I said, cI would pour out my fury upon them in the dwilderness, to consume them.

a Is. 63.10. Nu. 14.22. Ps. 78.40; 95.8-10. Pr. 1.25.
b Ne. 13.18. Ex. 16.27,28. Nu. 15.32-36. Is. 1.13,14.
c Nu. 14.28-30; 26.64,65. Ps. 106.23-27. Ex. 32.10. De. 1.35; 9.8.
d Nu. 26.65.
14

But eI wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, in whose sight I brought them out.

e v.9,22. ch. 36.21,22; 39.7. Jos. 7.9. 1Sa. 12.22. Ex. 32.14. Nu. 14.13-19. De. 9.28.
15

Yet falso I lifted up my hand unto them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land gwhich I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands;

f Nu. 14.28-30; 26.64,65. Ps. 106.23-27; 95.11. He. 3.11,18,19. De. 1.35.
g v.6.
16

Because hthey despised my judgments, and walked not in my statutes, but polluted my sabbaths: for their heart went after itheir idols.

h Pr. 1.30,31. v.13.
i Ps. 78.37. v.8. Ex. 32.1-6. Nu. 15.39; 25.2. De. 29.16,17. Am. 5.25,26. Ac. 7.42. 1Ki. 11.5. Pr. 4.23. He. 3.12,13. ch. 16.
17

jNevertheless mine eye spared them from destroying them, neither did I make an end of them in the wilderness.

j Ps. 106.8; 78.38. Je. 4.27. ch. 11.13; 5.11. v.9,14,22. Is. 30.18.
18

But kI said unto their children in the wilderness, Walk ye not in lthe statutes of your mfathers, neither observe their judgments, nnor defile yourselves with their idols:

k De. 4-32. Je. 44.17. Nu. 14.32,33; 26.64,65; 32.14.
l Jos. 24.14. 1Pe. 1.18.
m Je. 9.14. Am. 2.4.
n v.7,8,16.
19

I am othe LORD your God; pwalk in my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them;

o Le. 19.4. Ge. 17.7. Ex. 20.2; 19.4-6. Zec. 13.9. Je. 32.38; 11.4.
p De. 5.32; 12.32. Ne. 9.13. Ps. 147.19,20; 19.7-11; 119.3. Ex. 20-31. Le. 1-27. De. 4-27.
20

And qhallow my sabbaths; and rthey shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the LORD your God.

q Ne. 13.17-22. Is. 58.13; 56.2-4,6. Je. 17.22. Ex. 20.8-11. De. 5.12-14. Le. 23. Nu. 28; 29.
r Ge. 9.12; 17.11.
21

Notwithstanding sthe 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 tpolluted my sabbaths: uthen I said, I would pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness.

s Nu. 21.5; 25.1,2. De. 9.23,24; 29.18,19; 31.27. Ne. 9.26.
t v.13,16,14. ch. 22.8,9; 23.37,38. v.12.
u Nu. 25.5,9. Ps. 106.28,29. Jos. 22.17.
22

Nevertheless vI withdrew mine hand, and wwrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted in the sight of the heathen, in whose xsight I brought them forth.

v v.17. Ps. 106.8; 78.38.
w v.9,14.
x Ps. 98.2.
23

I ylifted up mine hand unto them also in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the heathen, and disperse them through the countries;

y Ps. 106.26,27. Le. 26.14-39. De. 28.15-68; 4.26-28; 29.18-28; 31.16-18,29; 32.15-35. Je. 15.4.
24

Because zthey had not executed my judgments, but had despised my statutes, and had polluted my sabbaths, and atheir eyes were after their fathers' idols.

a Ps. 119.37. v.16. Mar. 7.22. ch. 6.9; 18.6,12,15; 22.9. Je. 22.17. 1Jn. 2.16.
z v.13,16.
25

Wherefore bI gave them also statutes that were not good, and judgments whereby they should not live;

b Ho. 8.11. Ps. 81.12. v.39. Ro. 1.24-28. Is. 66.4. De. 5.28; 28.36. Je. 16.13. Pr. 14.12,14. 2Th. 2.11,12. Ac. 7.42.
26

And cI 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 dmight know that I am the LORD.

c Is. 1.11-15; 63.17. v.31. ch. 16.20,21. Le. 18.21. 2Ki. 17.17; 21.6. Je. 32.35. 2Ch. 28.3; 33.6. Ex. 13.2.
d ch. 6.7. Ps. 9.16. Is. 26.11. v.38,42,44.
27

¶Therefore, son of man, speak unto ethe house of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Yet in this your fathers have fblasphemed me, in that they have 4committed a *trespass against me.

e ch. 16.2. v.1,30.
f Re. 13.5,6. Ro. 2.24; 1.23.
28

For when gI had brought them into the land, for the which I hlifted up mine hand to give it to them, then they saw ievery high hill, and all the thick trees, and they offered there their sacrifices, and there they presented the j*provocation of their offering: there also they made their sweet savour, and poured out there their drink offerings.

g Jos. 1-21. Ps. 136.16-22; 105.44; 78.54,55.
h v.6,15,23,42.
i Je. 2.7,20; 3.6. Is. 57.5-7; 65.7. ch. 6.13. 2Ki. 23.5. 1Ki. 12.31; 15.14; 22.43.
j ch. 16.19. De. 31.20; 32.21. 1Co. 10.22. Ps. 16.4. Am. 5.21-26.
29

Then 5I said unto them, What is the high place whereunto ye go? kAnd the name thereof is called Bamah unto this day.

k ch. 16.16. Is. 3.9. Je. 6.15.
30

Wherefore say unto lthe house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; mAre ye polluted after the *manner of your nfathers? and commit ye whoredom after their abominations?

l ch. 16.2. v.1,27.
m Nu. 32.14. Je. 44.17. Ju. 2.19. Je. 7.26; 9.14; 16.12. Mat. 23.32. Ac. 7.51. Ho. 2.2. Le. 26.39.
n v.18.
31

For when ye ooffer your gifts, when ye make your sons to pass through the fire, ye pollute yourselves with all your idols, even unto this day: pand shall I be enquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will not be enquired of by you.

o De. 32.16,17,21. Ps. 106.37-39. Je. 7.31; 32.35. ch. 16.20,21. v.26,39.
p Ps. 66.18. Pr. 15.8; 28.9. Is. 1.11-15; 66.3. Pr. 1.28-32. v.3. 2Ki. 17.33. Ho. 10.12. Mat. 16.24. Zec. 7.5.
32

And that which cometh into your mind shall qnot be at all, that ye say, rWe will be as the heathen, as the families of the countries, to serve swood and stone.

q v.40.
r ch. 11.5. 1Sa. 8.5. Je. 44.17. Job 34.8. Ro. 12.2. Ep. 5.7,11. Jn. 5.14.
s De. 4.28. 2Ki. 19.18.
33

As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely twith a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out, will I rule over you:

t Je. 21.5; 15.2,3. ch. 5.12,13; 8.18. Ho. 10.8.
34

And uI 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.

u De. 30.5. Je. 40.11,12; 52.28-30. Am. 9.2-4. v.38,41. ch. 34; 36; 37.
35

And I will bring you into the vwilderness of the people, and there will wI plead with you xface to face.

v v.10,36,38. ch. 19.13; 38.8. Ho. 2.14,15. Mi. 4.10. Re. 12.14.
w ch. 17.20; 38.22. Je. 2.9,35; 25.31.
x Is. 1.18. De. 5.4.
36

yLike as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith the Lord GOD.

y Ex. 32.7-35. Nu. 11; 12; 14; 16; 21; 25. Ps. 106.15-33. v.13,21. 1Co. 10.5-10.
37

And I will cause you to zpass under the rod, and aI will bring you into the 6bond of the covenant:

a Ho. 2.19,20. ch. 37.26; 16.60,62. Je. 50.5.
z La. 3.1. ch. 34.17. Je. 33.13. Mi. 7.14. Mat. 25.32,33. Le. 27.32.
38

And bI 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 cthey shall not enter into the land of Israel: and dye shall know that I am the LORD.

b Re. 21.27. Mat. 3.12; 13.30,41,42; 25.32,33. ch. 11.21; 34.17,20,22. Nu. 14.29,30.
c Nu. 14.29,30,32,35. Je. 44.14. Ps. 95.11. Re. 21.27; 22.15. He. 4.6. ch. 28.25; 34.13; 36.24; 13.9.
d ch. 6.7; 15.7; 23.49. Ps. 9.16. Is. 26.11.
39

As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith the Lord GOD; eGo ye, serve ye every one his idols, and hereafter also, if ye will not hearken unto me: but fpollute ye my holy name no more with gyour gifts, and with your idols.

e Ju. 10.14. Ho. 4.17. Ps. 81.12,13. Am. 4.4,5. Ro. 1.24,28. 2Th. 2.11. v.25,26. Is. 66.4.
f Is. 1.2-15; 66.3. Re. 3.15,16. Mat. 6.24. ch. 23.37-39; 39.7; 43.7.
g v.31.
40

For in mine hholy 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 iaccept them, and there will I require jyour offerings, and the 7firstfruits of your *oblations, with all your holy things.

h Is. 2.2,3; 25.6,7. ch. 17.23. Ps. 2.6. Joel 3.17,18. Je. 3.18. Is. 65.18,19; 66.20. Je. 31.6,12. ch. 38.22. Ro. 11.25,26. Is. 56.7.
i Mal. 3.4.
j Le. 1-16; 23; 27. Nu. 15; 18; 28; 29. De. 12. ch. 44.10,30; 45.13. Is. 19.19; 56.7; 60.7; 66.23. Mal. 1.11. Zec. 8.20-23. Ro. 12.1. 1Pe. 2.5.
41

I will accept you with your 8sweet savour, when kI bring you out from the people, and gather you out of the countries wherein ye have been scattered; and lI will be sanctified in you before the heathen.

k ch. 11.17; 34.13; 36.24; 38.8. Is. 27.12,13. Je. 23.3; 30.3,18. 1Pe. 2.9.
l Is. 5.16. Le. 10.2. ch. 28.22,25; 36.23; 38.23; 39.27. Lu. 2.14. Ep. 3.21. Nu. 20.12.
42

And mye 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.

m ch. 38.23. Ho. 2.20. Is. 54.13; 48.17. Je. 31.34.
43

And there nshall 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.

n ch. 6.9; 16.61,63; 36.31; 14.11. Je. 31.9,18,19. Zec. 12.10-14. Job 42.5,6. 2Co. 7.11. Le. 26.39. Lu. 22.61,62.
44

And oye shall know that I am the LORD, when I phave wrought with you for my name's sake, qnot according to your wicked ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, O ye house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.

o v.38,42. Ps. 40.5. Mi. 7.18,9.
p v.33-43. ch. 36.22,32. v.9,14,22. Ps. 25.11; 115.1. Ge. 32.10. 1Ti. 1.13-16. 1Jn. 2.12.
q Ps. 103.10.
45

¶Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

46

Son of man, rset thy face toward the south, and sdrop thy word toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the south field;

r ch. 4.7; 6.2; 1.4; 21.2. Je. 13.19. Ac. 4.19; 5.29.
s De. 32.2. ch. 21.2. Am. 7.16. Job 29.22,23.
47

And say to the forest of the south, Hear the word of the LORD; Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, tI will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour every green tree in thee, and every udry tree: the flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces vfrom the south to the north shall be burned therein.

t ch. 15.6,7; 19.13; 22.23-31; 30.8. Lu. 23.31. Je. 21.14.
u ch. 17.24.
v Is. 24.1-6. ch. 7.2-15; 21.3,4; 9.6.
48

And wall flesh shall see that I the LORD have kindled it: it shall not be xquenched.

w Is. 26.11; 30.33. Ps. 9.16. De. 29.24-28.
x Mar. 9.44.
49

Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! they say of me, Doth he not speak yparables?

y ch. 11.3; 12.9,22; 33.30; 16.44. Je. 23.38; 18.18. Ac. 17.18. 2Ch. 36.16.