Ezekiel · WEB-C
Ezekiel
20
Bible textSynthetic voice (AI)
In the seventh year, in the fifth month, the tenth day of the month, some of the elders of Israel came to inquire of the LORD, and sat before me. See also: Ezekiel 8:1Ezekiel 32:1Ezekiel 26:1The LORD’s word came to me, saying, “Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel, and tell them, ‘The Lord GOD says: “Is it to inquire of me that you have come? As I live,” says the Lord GOD, “I will not be inquired of by you.”’ See also: Proverbs 28:9Psalms 50:15-21Matthew 15:8-9“Will you judge them, son of man? Will you judge them? Cause them to know the abominations of their fathers. See also: Ezekiel 22:2Ezekiel 23:36Ezekiel 16:2-3Tell them, ‘The Lord GOD says: “In the day when I chose Israel, and swore to the offspring of the house of Jacob, and made myself known to them in the land of Egypt, when I swore to them, saying, ‘I am the LORD your God;’ See also: Genesis 14:22Ezekiel 47:14Exodus 6:6-7in that day I swore to them to bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had searched out for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands. See also: Ezekiel 20:15Jeremiah 32:22Exodus 3:8I said to them, ‘Each of you throw away the abominations of his eyes. Don’t defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.’ See also: Leviticus 18:3Ezekiel 20:8Deuteronomy 29:16-18“‘“But they rebelled against me and wouldn’t listen to me. They didn’t all throw away the abominations of their eyes. They also didn’t forsake the idols of Egypt. Then I said I would pour out my wrath on them, to accomplish my anger against them in the middle of the land of Egypt. See also: Isaiah 63:10Ezekiel 20:7Ezekiel 5:13But I worked for my name’s sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations among which they were, in whose sight I made myself known to them in bringing them out of the land of Egypt. See also: Ezekiel 39:7Ezekiel 20:22Ezekiel 36:21-22So I caused them to go out of the land of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness. See also: Exodus 14:17-22Exodus 13:17-18Exodus 20:2I gave them my statutes and showed them my ordinances, which if a man does, he will live in them. See also: Romans 10:5Leviticus 18:5Luke 10:28Moreover also I gave them my Sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD who sanctifies them. See also: Ezekiel 20:20Ezekiel 37:28Leviticus 21:23“‘“But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness. They didn’t walk in my statutes and they rejected my ordinances, which if a man keeps, he shall live in them. They greatly profaned my Sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out my wrath on them in the wilderness, to consume them. See also: Ezekiel 20:21Ezekiel 20:8Deuteronomy 9:8But I worked for my name’s sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I brought them out. See also: Ezekiel 20:9Ezekiel 20:22Ezekiel 36:22-23Moreover also I swore to 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, See also: Psalms 95:11Psalms 106:26Numbers 14:23-30because they rejected my ordinances, and didn’t walk in my statutes, and profaned my Sabbaths; for their heart went after their idols. See also: Numbers 15:39Ezekiel 20:8Ezekiel 14:3-4Nevertheless my eye spared them, and I didn’t destroy them. I didn’t make a full end of them in the wilderness. See also: Ezekiel 11:13Jeremiah 5:18Jeremiah 4:27I said to their children in the wilderness, ‘Don’t walk in the statutes of your fathers. Don’t observe their ordinances or defile yourselves with their idols. See also: Zechariah 1:2-4Acts 7:51Psalms 78:6-8I am the LORD your God. Walk in my statutes, keep my ordinances, and do them. See also: Ezekiel 36:27Psalms 105:45Deuteronomy 5:32Make my Sabbaths holy. They shall be a sign between me and you, that you may know that I am the LORD your God.’ See also: Jeremiah 17:22Isaiah 58:13Exodus 31:13-17“‘“But the children rebelled against me. They didn’t walk in my statutes, and didn’t keep my ordinances to do them, which if a man does, he shall live in them. They profaned my Sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out my wrath on them, to accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness. See also: Ezekiel 20:13Ezekiel 20:8Deuteronomy 31:27Nevertheless I withdrew my hand and worked for my name’s sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I brought them out. See also: Ezekiel 20:14Ezekiel 20:9Psalms 78:38Moreover I swore to them in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the nations and disperse them through the countries, See also: Leviticus 26:33Deuteronomy 28:64-68Deuteronomy 32:40because they had not executed my ordinances, but had rejected my statutes, and had profaned my Sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers’ idols. See also: Ezekiel 20:16Ezekiel 6:9Ezekiel 20:13Moreover also I gave them statutes that were not good, and ordinances in which they couldn’t live. See also: Psalms 81:12Isaiah 66:4Ezekiel 20:39I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused all that opens the womb to pass through the fire, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I am the LORD.”’ See also: Isaiah 63:17Ezekiel 6:7Leviticus 18:21“Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel, and tell them, ‘The Lord GOD says: “Moreover, in this your fathers have blasphemed me, in that they have committed a trespass against me. See also: Romans 2:24Ezekiel 3:27Ezekiel 3:11For when I had brought them into the land which I swore to give to them, then they saw every high hill and every thick tree, and they offered there their sacrifices, and there they presented the provocation of their offering. There they also made their pleasant aroma, and there they poured out their drink offerings. See also: Ezekiel 6:13Joshua 23:14Jeremiah 2:7Then I said to them, ‘What does the high place where you go mean?’ So its name is called Bamah to this day.”’ See also: Ezekiel 16:31Ezekiel 16:24-25“Therefore tell the house of Israel, ‘The Lord GOD says: “Do you pollute yourselves in the way of your fathers? Do you play the prostitute after their abominations? See also: Jeremiah 16:12Jeremiah 7:26Judges 2:19When you offer your gifts, when you make your sons pass through the fire, do you pollute yourselves with all your idols to this day? Should I be inquired of by you, house of Israel? As I live, says the Lord GOD, I will not be inquired of by you! See also: Psalms 106:37-39Ezekiel 20:26Jeremiah 7:31“‘“That which comes into your mind will not be at all, in that you say, ‘We will be as the nations, as the families of the countries, to serve wood and stone.’ See also: Ezekiel 11:5Jeremiah 44:17Revelation 9:20As I live,” says the Lord GOD, “surely with a mighty hand, with an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out, I will be king over you. See also: Jeremiah 21:5Jeremiah 44:6Ezekiel 8:18I will bring you out from the peoples, and will gather you out of the countries in which you are scattered with a mighty hand, with an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out. See also: Amos 9:9-10Ezekiel 20:38Ezekiel 34:16I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there I will enter into judgment with you face to face. See also: Hosea 2:14Ezekiel 20:36Ezekiel 17:20Just as I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will enter into judgment with you,” says the Lord GOD. See also: Numbers 11:1-351 Corinthians 10:5-10Ezekiel 20:21“I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant. See also: Jeremiah 33:13Leviticus 27:32Matthew 25:32-33I will purge out from among you the rebels and those who disobey me. I will bring them out of the land where they live, but they shall not enter into the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD.” See also: Ezekiel 13:9Psalms 95:11Amos 9:9-10“‘As for you, house of Israel, the Lord GOD says: “Go, everyone serve his idols, and hereafter also, if you will not listen to me; but you shall no more profane my holy name with your gifts and with your idols. See also: Isaiah 1:13-15Ezekiel 43:7Ezekiel 20:25-26For in my holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel,” says the Lord GOD, “there all the house of Israel, all of them, shall serve me in the land. There I will accept them, and there I will require your offerings and the first fruits of your offerings, with all your holy things. See also: Isaiah 56:7Malachi 3:4Isaiah 60:7I will accept you as a pleasant aroma when I bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries in which you have been scattered. I will be sanctified in you in the sight of the nations. See also: Ezekiel 28:25Ezekiel 11:17Ezekiel 38:23You will know that I am the LORD when I bring you into the land of Israel, into the country which I swore to give to your fathers. See also: Ezekiel 34:13Ezekiel 38:23Ezekiel 36:23-24There you will remember your ways, and all your deeds in which you have polluted yourselves. Then you will loathe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that you have committed. See also: Ezekiel 6:9Hosea 5:15Jeremiah 31:18You will know that I am the LORD, when I have dealt with you for my name’s sake, not according to your evil ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, you house of Israel,” says the Lord GOD.’” See also: Ezekiel 24:24Psalms 115:1Ezekiel 20:9The LORD’s word came to me, saying, “Son of man, set your face toward the south, and preach toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the field in the south. See also: Ezekiel 21:2Amos 7:16Jeremiah 13:19Tell the forest of the south, ‘Hear the LORD’s word: The Lord GOD says, “Behold, I will kindle a fire in you, and it will devour every green tree in you, and every dry tree. The burning flame will not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north will be burned by it. See also: Jeremiah 21:14Luke 23:31Isaiah 9:18-19All flesh will see that I, the LORD, have kindled it. It will not be quenched.”’” See also: Jeremiah 40:2-3Jeremiah 7:20Deuteronomy 29:24-28Then I said, “Ah Lord GOD! They say of me, ‘Isn’t he a speaker of parables?’” See also: John 16:25Ezekiel 17:2Acts 17:18
See also: Cross references from OpenBible.info (CC BY), derived in part from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain).
Reflections
No reviewed reflections for this passage yet.
Notes · Haydock (1859, public domain)25 notes
Notes in English 19th-century Catholic commentary by Fr. George Leo Haydock, shown as published.
These notes keep the polemics of their time: some speak harshly of the Jewish people or of other Christians. The Church teaches otherwise today. The Jewish people may not be blamed for the death of Christ (Nostra Aetate 4; Catechism 597–598), and Christians of other communities are our brothers and sisters in the Lord (Unitatis Redintegratio 3). Christian unity
Ezekiel 20:1
Ver. 1. Month: A. 3411, Aug. 27. Usher. --- Ezechiel had prophesied in the fourth year; they was silent a year and two months, or 430 days. He opened his mouth again in the sixth year, (C. viii.
1.) and now in the seventh year he is ordered not to answer. W. --- We know not what the ancients wanted to know; but their design was evil. C.
↑ 1Ezekiel 20:4
Ver. 4. Judgest them; or, if thou wilt enter into the cause, and plead against them. Ch. --- Lay before them the iniquities of their fathers, and their own, which bring on the reprobation of the greatest part. God will form his Church out of a few of them and of the Gentiles. The return of a small number from captivity is also insinuated.
↑ 4Ezekiel 20:6
Ver. 6. Excelleth. Heb. "is beauty or a desire." Sept. "honeycomb." C.
↑ 6Ezekiel 20:7
Ver. 7. Scandals, &c. ( offensiones) that is, the abominations or idols, to the worship of which they were allured by their eyes. Ch. --- Moses found them in this condition in Egypt, and he could not entirely reclaim them. C. --- Many still secreted their idols. C. xxiii. 1. Acts vii. 42.
H.
↑ 7Ezekiel 20:8
Ver. 8. Egypt. Their disorders called for such severity. But God was restrained by the dangers (C.) of blasphemy, &c. to which the faithful and idolaters would thus have been exposed. H. ---
He saved them as he had promised, though they did not deserve it. W.
↑ 8Ezekiel 20:10
Ver. 10. Brought. Lit. "cast," (H.) as if they had been reluctant.
↑ 10Ezekiel 20:11
Ver. 11. Live, and enjoy temporal felicity, which was chief promised, though the faithful observers of the law would obtain an eternal reward.
↑ 11Ezekiel 20:12
Ver. 12. Sign, as also to promote piety and instruction.
↑ 12Ezekiel 20:13
Ver. 13. Sabbaths. We only read of one man gathering sticks, and the people manna once on those days. Ex. xv. and xvi. But Moses does not mention all. C.
--- Sabbath often denotes the whole law, which they transgressed; and as long as they retained an affection for idols, they could not observe the sabbaths so as to please God.
↑ 13Ezekiel 20:14
Ver. 14. But. Lit. "And I did for," &c. This motive caused me to spare them. H. ---
I punished only the most guilty adorers of the calf, and murmurers, &c. Num.
xiv. 28. C. --- Some were always preserved for a succession. v. 9, 22. W.
↑ 14Ezekiel 20:23
Ver. 23. Again, or also. H. --- Four times are specified v. 13, 15, 21. which may allude to the adoration of the calf, the graves of concupiscence, the murmuring, and commerce with the women and idols of Moab. Ex. xxiii. Num.
x. and xiv. and xxv. C.
↑ 23Ezekiel 20:25
Ver. 25. Not good. The laws and ordinances of their enemies: or those imposed upon them by that cruel tyrant the devil, to whose power they were delivered up for their sins; (Ch.) which may be styled the statutes of your fathers, &c. v.
18. H. --- God is often said to do what he only permits. C. --- He abandoned them to their own perversity. S. Jer. Deut. xxxii. 21. 37. --- If God had spoken of the Decalogue, &c. would he say such laws were not good, after he had testified that the observers shall live in them? v. 11. He established the ceremonial law, at the same time.
See Kimchi. M. &c. Chal. "I have given them up to their foolish desires. They have established bad statutes and laws which will not give them life." This seems the best explanation. C. --- Heb.
"Have I given...(26) and have I polluted them?" &c. Manasse Ben. Israel. The precepts had also a bad effect, and were given in condescension to the weakness of the people, (Orig.) particularly the ceremonial part. S. Just. S.
Chrys. S. Jer. &c. --- They did not justify, (S. Aug.) and were not good, compared with those of the new law. S. Greg. mor. xxviii. 9. --- Thus Solon gave the Athenians "the best laws that they would receive," (Plut.) though others more perfect might have been devised. C.
↑ 25Ezekiel 20:26
Ver. 26. I polluted them, &c. That is, I gave them up to such blindness, in punishment of their offences, as to pollute themselves with the blood of all their first-born, whom they offered up to their idols in compliance with their wicked devices. Ch. M. Lev. xviii. 21. and 4 Kin. iii. ultr.
and xxi. 6. C. --- Offered. Prot. "caused to pass through the fire all," &c. C. xvi.
21. --- For their.
Prot. "that I might make them desolate to the end, that," &c.
↑ 26Ezekiel 20:29
This 19th-century note uses polemical language; read it in the light of the note at the top of this panel.
Ver. 29. Called high. Heb. "Bamah," (H.) out of contempt. C. --- The Jews were so much attached to the high places, that they called the altar of the Lord by the same name. Thus heretics are convicted by the very names they use, calling sacrifice service, &c. W.
↑ 29Ezekiel 20:32
Ver. 32. Stones. This was the secret intention of the ancients, (v. 1. H.) and of many in captivity, who were only praise-worthy compared with those at Jerusalem. C. xi. 15.
↑ 32Ezekiel 20:33
Ver. 33. Out. I will not allow you to follow idols with impunity. C.
↑ 33Ezekiel 20:35
Ver. 35. Of people. That is, a desert, in which there are no people; (Ch.) meaning Judea, to which they should return.
↑ 35Ezekiel 20:37
Ver. 37. Covenant of the gospel, by the powerful attractions of grace. Lu. xiv.
24. Jo. vi. 69. and vii. 46. and 2 Cor. x. 4.
↑ 37Ezekiel 20:38
Ver. 38. Israel. They shall continue in exile; or the rebel Jews who will not believe in Christ, shall be cast off. C.
↑ 38Ezekiel 20:39
Ver. 39. Walk, &c. It is not an allowance, much less a commandment to serve idols; but a figure of speech, by which God would have them to understand, that if they would walk after their idols, they must not pretend to serve him at the same time: for that he would by no means suffer such a mixture of worship. Ch. S. Jer. --- Continue, if you dare, to serve idols. I will still bring you back. C. --- Sept. "take away each your devices; and then if you hear me, (Grabe's copy adds, not) and defile not my," &c. H. --- God would rather have idolaters leave him wholly, than halt between two, (3 K. xviii.) neither hot nor cold; (Apoc. iii.) for such dishonour God's name the most. Rom. ii. 24. W.
↑ 39Ezekiel 20:40
Ver. 40. Mountain. The foregoing verse, to make the sense complete, must be understood so as to condemn and reject that mixture of worship which the Jews then followed. In this verse God promises to the true Israelites, especially to those of the Christian Church, that they should serve him in another manner in his holy mountain, the spiritual Sion, and shall be accepted of by him.
Ch.
↑ 40Ezekiel 20:43
Ver. 43. Committed. This is a picture of the converts to Christianity. C.
↑ 43Ezekiel 20:46
Ver. 46. Of the south. Jerusalem lay towards the south of Babylon, where the prophet then was, and is here called the forest of the south field, and is threatened with utter desolation. Ch. See C.
xxi. C. --- In Jerusalem there were good and bad. W.
↑ 46Ezekiel 20:47
Ver. 47. Burned, with war and famine. Jer. xxi. 14. C. --- North, from Egypt to Mesopotamia.
Theod. --- Nabuchodonosor invaded those parts. H.
↑ 47Ezekiel 20:49
Ver. 49. Parables. They were easy enough to understand, but the Jews would not comprehend them no more than our Saviour's words. Jo. x. 24. C.
↑ 49License: Notes by Fr. George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), from the Douay-Rheims Bible with Haydock's commentary (first ed. Thomas Haydock, Manchester/Dublin, 1811–1814; New York: Edward Dunigan & Brother, 1859); New Testament notes compiled with Fr. Benedict Rayment. Public domain. Digital text: "The Haydock Bible", Internet Archive (archive.org/details/TheHaydockBible), uploaded 2011 under the Public Domain Mark. · Credits and licenses