Scofield Reference Bible Notes
Ezekiel 20

Eze 20:1 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 enquire of the LORD, and sat before me.

fifth month

i.e. August.

Eze 20:6 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:

to bring them forth of the land of Egypt

Exo 3:8, 17; Deu 8:7-9; Jer 32:22.

which is the glory of all lands

Eze 20:15; Psa 48:2; Dan 8:9; 11:16, 41; Zec 7:14.

Eze 20:7 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.

the idols of Egypt

Lev 17:7; 18:3; Deu 29:16-18; Jos 24:14.

Eze 20:9 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 for my name's sake

Eze 20:14, 22; Eze 36:21, 22; Exo 32:12; Num 14:13; Deu 9:28.

heathen [See also Eze 20:14, 22, 23, 32, 41.]

i.e. nations.

Eze 20:11 And I gave them my statutes, and shewed them my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them.

my statutes, and…my judgments

Deu 4:8; Neh 9:13, 14; Psa 147:19, 20.

Eze 20:12 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 my sabbaths

Exo 20:8; 31:13; 35:2; Deu 5:12; Neh 9:14.

Eze 20:15 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 lifted up my hand…I would not bring them into the land

Num 14:28; Psa 95:11; 106:26.

Eze 20:16 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 after their idols

Num 15:39; Psa 78:37; Amo 5:25, 26; Act 7:42, 43.

Eze 20:20 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.

hallow my sabbaths

Eze 20:12; Jer 17:22.

Eze 20:21 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.

the children rebelled against me

Num 25:1, 2; Deu 9:23, 24; 31:27.

Eze 20:23 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;

scatter them

Lev 26:33; Deu 28:64; Psa 106:27; Jer 15:4.

Eze 20:25 Wherefore I gave them also statutes that were not good, and judgments whereby they should not live;

I gave them also statutes that were not good

See Eze 20:39; Psa 81:12; Rom 1:24; 2Th 2:11.

Eze 20:33 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:

will I rule

Judgments (the seven). Eze 20:33-44; Dan 7:22. (2Sa 7:14; Rev 22:12).

over you

Kingdom (O.T.). Eze 20:33-44; Eze 34:11-15, 22-25. (Gen 1:26; Zec 12:8).

Eze 20:36 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.

I pleaded with your fathers

See Num 14:21, 22, 23, 28, 29.

Eze 20:37 And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant:

cause you to pass

Lev 27:32; Jer 33:13.

under the rod

The passage is a prophecy of the future judgment upon Israel, regathered from all nations (see "Israel," Scofield Isaiah 1:24-26 refs.) into the old wilderness of the wanderings (Eze 20:35). The issue of this judgment determines who of Israel in that day shall enter the land for kingdom blessing (Psa 50:1-7; Eze 20:33-44; Mal 3:2-5; 4:1, 2); see other judgments, Scofield John 12:31, note; 1 Corinthians 11:31, note; 2 Corinthians 5:10, note; Matthew 25:32, note; Jude 1:6, note; Revelation 20:12, note.

Eze 20:39 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, serve ye every one his idols

Jdg 10:14; Psa 81:12; Amo 4:4.

Eze 20:40 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.

there will I accept them

Isa 56:7; 60:7; Zec 8:20; Mal 3:4; Rom 12:1.

Eze 20:42 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.

I shall bring you into the land

Eze 11:17; 34:13; 36:24.

Eze 20:43 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 in your own sight

Lev 26:39; Eze 6:9; Hos 5:15.