In this chapter, we read about the past, present, and future of Israel. Judah’s persistent rebellion, Ezekiel 20:1-32.
Ezekiel gives the elders a review of their history. Their idolatry is bringing the judgement. In the following year, 590 B.C., God once again chastises Israel, citing the long history of rebellion and his repeated reluctance to bring about their ultimate punishment against them.
He reminds Israel that they continue to be as sinful as their father, but that a day is coming when God’s chosen ones will be obedient and holy people. In the Hebrew Bible, the chapter consists of Ezekiel 20:1-44; Ezekiel 2:45-49 are placed in Ezekiel 21.
Ezekiel 20:1-44 may be taken as a unit divided into two parts; Ezekiel 1-33 describes the apostasies of the house of Judah, and Ezekiel 20:35-44 speaks of restoration.
The year is now 590 B.C., two years after the prophecies of Ezekiel 1-3, and one year after the prophecies of Ezekiel 8, and we are nearing the closing stages of this part of Israel’s history. Once again, the elders come to Ezekiel, Ezekiel 20:1-2. This is probably the same group who came in Ezekiel 8:1 and Ezekiel 14:1.
From God’s comments to the prophet, it looks as if they are still in the same condition as they were back then. It appears the elders came to inquire of God, but we’re not told what their question was, Ezekiel 20:3.
Constable, in his commentary, says the following.
‘These elders probably wanted to know if Zedekiah’s overtures to Egypt would be successful, if the Egyptians would help them defeat the Babylonians, and if the exiles could expect to return home soon.’
God refuses to allow them to inquire of Him, Ezekiel 20:3 / Ezekiel 14:3. Twice He asks Ezekiel if he will judge them, Ezekiel 20:4. The answer to which is yes, confront them with the detestable idolatry practices of their ancestors, Ezekiel 20:4.
We are given a historical survey of the idolatry of the people of Israel. This time, it is not figurative or done in an allegorical fashion; this is a fact. A survey of the historical material in Genesis to Deuteronomy will show the constant desire to return to Egypt, rebellion against God and the practice of idolatry.
The Lord wanted to remind the elders that He chose Israel, He made Himself known to them, and He made promises to them while they were still slaves in Egypt, Ezekiel 20:5 / Exodus 6:2-8 / Deuteronomy 7:6-11.
He promised them He would deliver them from Egypt and give them a beautiful land flowing with milk and honey, Ezekiel 20:6 / Genesis 12:7 / Exodus 3:8 / Exodus 3:13-18.
As with the figurative picture in Ezekiel 16, we see how God gave her all she needed and was patient and merciful toward her, Ezekiel 20:6 / Ezekiel 20:11-12 / Ezekiel 20:15-17.
God told them to get rid of their vile images and stop defiling themselves with the idols of Egypt, Ezekiel 20:7. However, they refused and rebelled against Him, Ezekiel 20:8 / Exodus 5:19-21 / Exodus 6:9 / Leviticus 17:7 / Leviticus 18:3 / Leviticus 26:30 / Deuteronomy 29:16-17 / Joshua 24:14.
Poole, in his commentary, says the following.
‘They did not forsake the idols of Egypt; it is probable there were some among them that carried with them (as Rachel did her father’s) the idols of Egypt.’
As a result of their rebellion, God judged them in Egypt, Ezekiel 20:8. He then brought them out of Egypt for His own Name’s sake among the other nations, Ezekiel 20:9 / Genesis 15:13-16 / Exodus 7:5 / Exodus 32:12 / Numbers 14:16 / Psalms 106:8-12.
Feinberg, in his commentary, says the following.
‘When God could find no basis in them for extending to them His mercy and grace, He did it solely for His name’s sake, that is, for His own glory.’
It was God who led them out of Egypt and into the wilderness, Ezekiel 20:10. At Mount Sinai, He gave them decrees and laws in order that they might live, Ezekiel 20:11 / Leviticus 18:5.
Clarke, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Had they attended to these things, they should have lived by them. They would have been holy, healthy, and happy.’
He also gave them His Sabbaths, as a sign of their relationship with Him, but in order to make them holy, they had to obey them, Ezekiel 20:12 / Exodus 20:8-11 / Exodus 31:13-17 / Isaiah 56:2 / Isaiah 56:4.
Coffman, in his commentary, says the following concerning the sabbath.
‘It was never given to all mankind, but to Israel only, as a sign between them and God. It was not revealed to Adam, who never heard of it, but to Moses, Nehemiah 9:13.’
Once again, God’s people rebelled against Him in the wilderness, they didn’t follow His decrees and rejected His laws, which were designed to give them blessings and life, Ezekiel 20:13 / Leviticus 18:5.
They also utterly desecrated His Sabbaths by failing to observe them and as a result, God’s anger was poured out on them, Ezekiel 20:8, in order to destroy them in the wilderness, Ezekiel 20:13.
Once again, He brings them out of the wilderness for His own Name’s sake among the other nations, Ezekiel 20:14 / Ezekiel 20:9 / Genesis 15:13-16 / Exodus 7:5 / Exodus 32:12 / Numbers 14:16 / Psalms 106:8-12.
Notice that God swore that He wouldn’t bring that generation of Israelites into the Promised Land because they had rebelled against Him and had worshipped idols, Ezekiel 20:15-16 / Psalms 95:11 / Psalms 106:26.
However, God in His mercy had pity on them and didn’t destroy them in the wilderness, Ezekiel 20:17, thanks to Moses intervening on their behalf, Numbers 14:13-19; Deuteronomy 1:26-40; Psalms 106:23-25.
The Lord then tells His children not to follow the example of their parents, Ezekiel 20:18, but they should remain faithful to God and obey His decrees and laws, Ezekiel 20:19.
They are also instructed to keep God’s Sabbaths holy, which was the sign of their relationship with Him, then they would know that that He is their God, Ezekiel 20:20.
Sadly, they also rebelled against the Lord, just as their parents did before, and as a result, they were once again punished, Ezekiel 20:21. He would judge the generation of Israel born and raised in the wilderness.
Once again, for His own Name’s sake, Numbers 16:21-22 / Numbers 25:1-9, He withheld His wrath from them, Ezekiel 20:22 / Ezekiel 20:14 / Ezekiel 20:9 / Genesis 15:13-16 / Exodus 7:5 / Exodus 32:12 / Numbers 14:16 / Psalms 106:8-12.
Coffman, in his commentary, says the following.
‘God would have totally destroyed them at that time, except for the consideration that His holy name would have been profaned by the nations. Instead, he made another covenant with Israel, the wicked children of the first generation, and under Joshua, led them into Canaan.’
Notice God once again swore, this time He swore that He would disperse them and scatter them among the other nations and countries, Ezekiel 20:23, because of their covenant rebellion, Ezekiel 20:24 / Leviticus 26:33 / Deuteronomy 4:27 / Deuteronomy 28:64 / Psalms 106:26-27.
Feinberg, in his commentary, says the following.
‘But even as early as the wilderness era, God had predicted Israel’s worldwide scattering among the nations, Deuteronomy 28:64-68. The Babylonian captivity was only a partial realisation of this prophecy by Moses.’
Notice God gave them statutes that were not good and laws through which they could not live, Ezekiel 20:25. This doesn’t mean that had no choice and it doesn’t mean that God was misleading them, it simply means that despite God blessing them and taking care of their needs, there were times when God allowed them to go the way they wanted, Romans 1:24 / Romans 1:26 / Romans 1:28 / 2 Thessalonians 2:11.
God also says that He defiled them through their gifts, the sacrifice of every firstborn, so that He might fill them with horror so they would know that He is the LORD, Ezekiel 20:26.
God did indeed command that they offer their first-born to Him, Exodus 13:12 / Exodus 22:29 / Numbers 18:15-19, but He didn’t command them to offer their children as a burnt offering.
The Lord tells Ezekiel to keep speaking to the people; he is to tell them that their ancestors also blasphemed God in their unfaithfulness, Ezekiel 20:27 / Numbers 15:30-31.
The idolatrous tendency continued in the land, Ezekiel 20:28 / Ezekiel 20:31. Ezekiel and the people need to see that over and over again God has helped them, they have then rejected Him and gone and done their own thing.
The Lord had asked them about their use of the high places for idolatry, Ezekiel 20:29 / Ezekiel 16:24-25. It is called Bamah, meaning high places, to this day, Ezekiel 20:29.
Taylor, in his commentary, says the following.
‘The crowning rebellion of Israel’s history was that when finally, in the mercy of God, they entered into the land of promise, they promptly took over the heathen Canaanite hill-top shrines as their own places of sacrifice.’
Ezekiel asks if they planned to defile themselves and lust after the vile images, as their ancestors did, Ezekiel 20:30. Notice they were defiled because they practised child sacrifice, hence why God wouldn’t let them inquire of them, Ezekiel 20:31 / Ezekiel 20:1 / Ezekiel 20:3.
The Lord refused to allow them to become like the idolaters who served wood and stone, Ezekiel 20:32. He swore that He would reign over them with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with outpoured wrath, Ezekiel 20:32 / Exodus 6:6 / Exodus 32:11 / Deuteronomy 4:34 / Deuteronomy 5:15 / Deuteronomy 7:19 / Deuteronomy 11:2 / Psalms 136:12.
He will judge them, but He will also gather them from the land where He had scattered them with His mighty hand and outstretched arm, Ezekiel 20:34 / Ezekiel 36:14-38 / Ezekiel 37:21-23 / Deuteronomy 30:1-10 / Isaiah 11:11-16 / Isaiah 49:17-23 / Isaiah 61:4-9 / Jeremiah 23:1-8 / Amos 9:11-15 / Zechariah 10:8-12.
Notice there is a second exodus mentioned, another wilderness where God will judge them, Ezekiel 20:35.
Coffman, in his commentary, says the following.
‘It was the wilderness of their captivity in Babylon; and the vast majority of Israel would not pass that test, any more than their fathers had passed it in the former wilderness.’
Just as God had judged their ancestors in Egypt, He is also going judge His people, Ezekiel 20:36 / Jeremiah 33:13. The judgement is pictured as God being a shepherd, Ezekiel 20:37. The shepherd would make the sheep pass under the rod that He might pick out his own, Ezekiel 20:37 / Leviticus 27:32. This is what God will do with them.
Feinberg, in his commentary, says the following.
‘As a shepherd’s staff is employed to count the sheep, Jeremiah 33:13, so the Lord will bring the entire flock under the rod, this time with the purpose of separating the godly from the wicked.’
Notice that God will bring them into the bond of the covenant, Ezekiel 20:37 / Ezekiel 36:25-38 / Jeremiah 31:31-34. The Lord would purge those who revolt and rebel against Him; He would bring them out of the land where they were living, but wouldn’t bring them to the Promised Land, Ezekiel 20:38 / Numbers 16 / Deuteronomy 11:6. Then they would know that He was the LORD, Ezekiel 20:38.
Their continual following of idols causes God to just let them get on with it, Ezekiel 20:39 / Romans 1:26. If that is what they want to do, then OK, He will allow them their choice. In the future, however, they will listen to Him and stop profaning His holy name with their gifts and idols, Ezekiel 20:39.
Cooper, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Those who consistently reject God and his Word favour self-willed idolatry and immorality and are finally given over by him to reprobation, Ezekiel 20:30-39, a process described in detail in Romans 1:24-28.’
In the future, all of the people of Israel will serve God, but He will require their offerings, choice gifts and their holy sacrifices on His holy mountain, Ezekiel 20:40 / Isaiah 27:13 / Isaiah 56:7 / Isaiah 66:20 / Joel 2:1 / Joel 3:17 / Zephaniah 3:11 / Zechariah 8:3.
He will accept them as fragrant incense, Ezekiel 20:41, and note again, in the midst of the judgement, we have God’s promise for a remnant who would return to the land, God will manifest His holiness among them in the sight of the nations, Ezekiel 20:41.
God has sworn that He would give their ancestors the land, Ezekiel 20:42 / Genesis 12:1-3. This will show all that God could have kept them there in the first place.
Some might think the God of the Israelites was unable to keep them from the power of the Babylonians. His bringing them back would prove that he could have kept them there.
When God brings them back, they would remember their past sins and loathe themselves, Ezekiel 20:43. They would also know that He is the LORD, who is full of grace and mercy, Ezekiel 20:44.
Clarke, in his commentary, says the following.
‘These promises may, in a certain limited sense, be applied to the restoration from the Babylonish captivity; but they must have their proper fulfilment when the Jews shall accept Jesus as their Saviour, and in consequence be brought back from all their dispersions to their own land.’
Please note that Ezekiel 20:45 should be taken up to Ezekiel 21:32.
Feinberg, in his commentary, says the following.
‘In the Hebrew text of Ezekiel, verse 45 of this chapter is the beginning of chapter 21, where the connection is clear, and the figure is explained in direct prophetic discourse.’
Jerusalem will be punished with a flaming sword. Babylon will be God’s executor of judgement. The priestly and kingly authority will be removed from Judah. Ammon will also be judged by God.
Because of Israel’s rebellion, judgment has already come against the northern tribes, and God’s vengeance is poised against Judah. Ezekiel now sees the sword of judgment coming.
He turns his face Southward and brings still other pronouncements against Judah’s sin. Perhaps the judgments keep coming because so few people have believed so far in his message.
As Ezekiel complains, they think he is simply bringing nice little parables and interesting sermons, from which they derive some entertainment. Hence, the picture of a sword, perhaps, will get their attention.
The burning forest and the sword of the Lord, Ezekiel 20:45-21:32. The burning forest is a fire kindled by the Lord, Ezekiel 20:45-49. The sword of the Lord, Ezekiel 21:1-32. Its disastrous effects, Ezekiel 21:1-7. The sword sharpened for the slaying, Ezekiel 21:8-17.
The sword of the king of Babylon will smite Jerusalem, then smite the Ammonites also, Ezekiel 21:18-23. The prophecy will appear to Judeans as deceptive but will be verified, Ezekiel 21:24-27. The overthrow of the Ammonites, Ezekiel 21:28-32.
Coffman, in his commentary, says the following.
‘This parable emphatically teaches the total destruction of Jerusalem. If there could be any doubt of what is prophesied, the following chapter spells it out in language so blunt and specific as to shock the evil men who pretended not to understand it.’
Here, the prophet is told to prophesy toward the south or the Negeb, Ezekiel 20:45. The picture is of a great fire, and unquenchable fire spreading throughout all the south land, Ezekiel 20:46.
The forest is Jerusalem, and the people are the trees. It originates with the Lord, Ezekiel 20:47-48, and it will consume the dry and the green tree, Ezekiel 20:47. This is a hot fire, describing the total destruction of Jerusalem.
Smith, in his commentary, says the following.
‘That fire would consume every green tree as well as every dry one. The thought is that both the righteous and the wicked would suffer from the devastation caused by the Chaldean invaders.’
Everyone would know that this was God’s doing, Ezekiel 20:28. Note the people were making fun of Ezekiel just as they did to Jeremiah, Ezekiel 20:49 / Jeremiah 20:7.