Ezekiel 20

The elders’ inquiry

1In the seventh year, on the tenth day of the fifth month, some of Israel’s elders came to consult the LORD and sat down before me. 2The word of the LORD came to me: 3“Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel. Tell them, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says: Have you come to consult me? As I live, I will not let you consult me, declares the Lord GOD.’ 4Will you judge them? Will you judge them, son of man? Confront them with their ancestors’ abominations.

In Egypt

5Tell them: This is what the Lord GOD says: On the day I chose Israel, I raised my hand in an oath to the descendants of the house of Jacob. I made myself known to them in the land of Egypt and raised my hand to them, saying, ‘I am the LORD your God.’ 6On that day I raised my hand to them, promising to bring them out of Egypt into a land I had searched out for them, flowing with milk and honey, the glory of all lands. 7I told them, ‘Each of you, throw away the detestable things your eyes are drawn to. Do not defile yourselves with Egypt’s idols. I am the LORD your God.’ 8But they rebelled against me and refused to listen. None of them threw away the detestable things their eyes were drawn to, and they did not abandon Egypt’s idols. So I said I would pour out my fury on them and spend my anger against them in the land of Egypt. 9But I acted for the sake of my name, so it would not be profaned in the sight of the nations among whom they lived. In those nations’ sight I had made myself known to Israel by bringing them out of Egypt.

In the wilderness

10I brought them out of Egypt and led them into the wilderness. 11I gave them my statutes and made my judgments known to them: whoever carries them out will live by them. 12I also gave them my Sabbaths as a sign between me and them, so they would know that I am the LORD who makes them holy. 13But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness. They did not live by my statutes and rejected my judgments, by which a person who carries them out will live. They greatly profaned my Sabbaths. So I said I would pour out my fury on them in the wilderness and destroy them. 14But I acted for the sake of my name, so it would not be profaned in the sight of the nations who had seen me bring them out. 15I also raised my hand in an oath to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, the glory of all lands. 16They rejected my judgments, did not live by my statutes, and profaned my Sabbaths, because their hearts followed their idols. 17Yet my eye spared them from destruction, and I did not make an end of them in the wilderness.

The next generation

18I told their children in the wilderness, ‘Do not live by your ancestors’ statutes or keep their judgments. Do not defile yourselves with their idols. 19I am the LORD your God. Live by my statutes, keep my judgments, and carry them out. 20Keep my Sabbaths holy. They will be a sign between me and you, so you will know that I am the LORD your God.’ 21But the children rebelled against me. They did not live by my statutes or keep my judgments by carrying them out, though a person who carries them out will live by them. They profaned my Sabbaths. So I said I would pour out my fury on them and spend my anger against them in the wilderness. 22But I drew back my hand and acted for the sake of my name, so it would not be profaned in the sight of the nations who had seen me bring them out. 23I also raised my hand in an oath to them in the wilderness that I would disperse them among the nations and scatter them through other lands, 24because they did not carry out my judgments, rejected my statutes, and profaned my Sabbaths. Their eyes followed their ancestors’ idols. 25I also gave them statutes that were not good and judgments by which they could not live. 26I defiled them through their gifts, as they made every firstborn pass through the fire, so that I might devastate them, so that they would know that I am the LORD.

In the land

27“Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel. Tell them: This is what the Lord GOD says: In this too your ancestors insulted me by acting unfaithfully toward me. 28I brought them into the land I had raised my hand to give them. Yet whenever they saw a high hill or a leafy tree, there they offered their sacrifices, there they presented their provoking offerings, there they placed their pleasing aromas, and there they poured out their drink offerings. 29I asked them, ‘What is this high place you go to?’ So it has been called Bamah to this day. 30Therefore tell the house of Israel: This is what the Lord GOD says: Are you defiling yourselves in the ways of your ancestors, whoring after their detestable things? 31When you bring your gifts and make your children pass through the fire, you defile yourselves with all your idols to this day. Should I let you consult me, house of Israel? As I live, declares the Lord GOD, I will not let you consult me. 32What rises in your minds will never happen. You say, ‘We will be like the nations, like the peoples of other lands, serving wood and stone.’

Gathering and judgment

33“As I live, declares the Lord GOD, I will surely reign over you with a strong hand, an outstretched arm, and poured-out fury. 34I will bring you out from the peoples and gather you from the lands where you have been scattered, with a strong hand, an outstretched arm, and poured-out fury. 35I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples and enter into judgment with you there, face to face. 36As I entered into judgment with your ancestors in the wilderness of Egypt, so I will enter into judgment with you, declares the Lord GOD. 37I will make you pass under the rod and bring you into the bond of the covenant. 38I will purge from among you those who rebel and transgress against me. I will bring them out of the land where they reside, but they will not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD. 39“As for you, house of Israel, this is what the Lord GOD says: Go, each of you, and serve your idols! But afterward you will surely listen to me, and you will no longer profane my holy name with your gifts and your idols. 40For on my holy mountain, on Israel’s high mountain, declares the Lord GOD, the whole house of Israel, all of them, will serve me in the land. There I will accept them, and there I will require your contributions, your choicest gifts, and all your holy offerings. 41I will accept you as a pleasing aroma when I bring you out from the peoples and gather you from the lands where you have been scattered. Through you I will show my holiness in the sight of the nations. 42Then you will know that I am the LORD when I bring you into the land of Israel, the land I raised my hand to give your ancestors. 43There you will remember your ways and all the deeds by which you defiled yourselves. You will loathe yourselves for all the evil you have done. 44You will know that I am the LORD when I deal with you for the sake of my name, rather than according to your evil ways and corrupt deeds, house of Israel, declares the Lord GOD.”

Fire in the south

45The word of the LORD came to me: 46“Son of man, turn your face southward. Speak out against the south and prophesy against the forest of the Negeb. 47Tell the forest of the Negeb: Hear the word of the LORD! This is what the Lord GOD says: I am kindling a fire in you that will consume every green tree and every dry tree. Its blazing flame will not be quenched, and every face from south to north will be scorched by it. 48All flesh will see that I, the LORD, have kindled it. It will not be quenched.” 49I said, “Ah, Lord GOD! They say about me, ‘Is he not just a teller of parables?’”