1-3 God refuses to be consulted by the elders of Israel 4-9 He shews the story of their rebellions in Egypt 19-26 in the wilderness 27-32 and in the land 33-44 He promises to gather them by the Gospel 45-49 Under the name of a forest he shews the destruction of Jerusalem

A.M. 3411 B.C. 593
in the seventh The seventh year of the captivity of Jeconiah, and according to Usher, Monday, Aug 27, 3411 Eze 1:2 8:1 24:1 26:1 29:1,17 30:20 31:1 32:1 40:1

that certain Eze 14:1-3 33:30-33 1Ki 14:2-6 22:15 2Ki 3:13 Isa 29:13 58:2 Jer 37:17 Mt 22:16

and eat Eze 8:1 Lu 2:46 8:35 10:39 Ac 22:3

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

Are Isa 1:12 Mt 3:7 Lu 3:7

As I Eze 14:3,4,7,8 1Sa 28:6 Ps 50:15-21 Pr 15:8 21:27 28:9 Isa 1:15 Mic 3:7 Mt 15:8,9 Joh 4:24

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 I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will not be enquired of by you.

No specific reference to this verse.

4 Wilt thou judge them, son of man, wilt thou judge them? cause them to know the abominations of their fathers:

judge them. or, plead for them Eze 14:14,20 22:2 23:36,45 Isa 5:3 Jer 7:16 11:14 14:11-14 15:1 1Co 6:2

cause Eze 16:2,3 Mt 23:29-37 Lu 11:47-51 13:33-35 Ac 7:51,52

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

In the Ex 6:6,7 19:4-6 De 4:37 7:6 14:2 Ps 33:12 Isa 41:8,9 43:10 44:1,2 Jer 33:24 Mr 13:20

lifted up mine hand. or, sware Eze 20:6 Ex 6:8,9 Eze 20:15,23 47:14 Ge 14:22 De 32:40 Re 10:5

and made Eze 35:11 Ex 3:8 4:31 De 4:34 11:2-7 Ps 103:7

I am Ex 3:6,16 20:2,3

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:

lifted Eze 20:5,15,23,42

to bring Ge 15:13,14 Ex 2:8,17 14:1-15:27

into De 8:7-9 11:11,12 32:8

flowing Ex 13:5 33:3 Le 20:24 Nu 13:27 14:8 De 6:3 11:9 26:9,15 27:3 31:20 32:13,14 Jos 5:6 Jer 11:5 32:22

which is Eze 20:15 Ps 48:2 Da 8:9 11:16,41 Zec 7:14

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.

Cast Eze 20:8 18:6,15,31 Isa 2:20,21 31:7

the abominations Eze 6:9 14:6 2Ch 15:8

defile Eze 23:3,8 Le 17:7 18:3 De 29:16-18 Jos 24:14

I am Eze 20:19 Ex 16:12 Le 11:44 20:7

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

they rebelled De 9:7 Ne 9:26 Isa 63:10

they did Eze 20:7 Ex 32:4-6

then I Eze 20:13,21 5:13 7:8

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 Eze 20:14,22 36:21,22 39:7 Ex 32:12 Nu 14:13 De 9:28 32:26,27 Jos 7:9 1Sa 12:22

in whose Jos 2:10 9:9,10 1Sa 4:8

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

Ex 13:17,18 14:17-22 15:22 20:2

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

I gave De 4:8 Ne 9:13,14 Ps 147:19,20 Ro 3:2

shewed them [heb] made them to know
which Eze 20:13,21 Le 18:5 De 20:15,16 Lu 10:28 Ro 10:5 Ga 3:12

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 Ge 2:3 Ex 16:29 20:8-11 35:2 Le 23:3,24,32,39 25:4 De 5:12-15 Ne 9:14 Mr 2:27,28 Col 2:16

to be Eze 20:20 Ex 31:13-17

I am Eze 37:28 Ex 19:5,6 Le 20:8 21:8,15,23 Joh 17:17-19 1Th 5:23 Jude 1:1

13 But the house of Israel rebelled 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 my sabbaths they greatly polluted: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them in the wilderness, to consume them.

rebelled Eze 20:8 Ex 16:28 32:8 Nu 14:22 De 9:12-24 31:27 1Sa 8:8 Ne 9:16-18 Ps 78:40,41 95:8-11 106:13-33 Isa 63:10

and they Eze 20:16,24 Le 26:15,43 2Sa 12:9 Pr 1:25 13:13 Am 2:4 1Th 4:8 Heb 10:28,29

which Eze 20:11

and my Eze 20:8,21 Ex 16:27,28 Nu 15:31-36 Isa 56:6

I said Eze 20:8,21 Ex 32:10 Nu 14:11,12,29 16:20,21,45 26:25 De 9:8 Ps 106:23

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

Eze 20:9,22 36:22,23 Eph 1:6,12

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 Eze 20:23 Nu 14:23-30 26:64,65 De 1:34,35 Ps 95:11 106:26 Heb 3:11 Heb 3:18 4:3

flowing Eze 20:6

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

they Eze 20:13,14

for their They still had a hankering after the idolatries they had learned in Egypt, to which they added new idols, which they had seen in countries through which they had travelled, as those of the Midianites, Amorites, etc. Eze 20:8 14:3,4 23:8 Ex 32:1-8 Nu 15:39 25:2 Am 5:25,26 Ac 7:39-43

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

mine Eze 8:18 9:10 1Sa 24:10 Ne 9:19 Ps 78:37,38

neither Eze 7:2 11:13 Jer 4:27 5:18 Na 1:8,9

18 But I said unto their children in the wilderness, Walk ye not in the statutes of your fathers, neither observe their judgments, nor defile yourselves with their idols:

I said Nu 14:32,33 32:13-15 De 4:3-6 Ps 78:6-8

the statues Zec 1:2-4 Lu 11:47,48 Ac 7:51 1Pe 1:18

defile Eze 20:7 Jer 2:7 3:9

19 I am the LORD your God; walk in my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them;

the Lord Ex 20:2,3 De 5:6,7 7:4-6 Ps 81:9,10 Jer 3:22,23

walk Eze 11:20 36:27 37:24 De 4:1 5:1 32:33 6:1-8:20 10:1-12:32 Ne 9:13,14 Ps 19:7-11 105:45 Tit 2:11-14

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.

Eze 20:12 44:24 Ex 20:11 31:13-17 Ne 13:15-22 Isa 58:13 Jer 17:22,24,27

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 Nu 21:5 25:1-8 De 9:23,24 31:27 Ps 106:29-33 Ac 13:18

if a man Eze 20:11,13

I would Eze 20:8,13 21:31 2Ch 34:21,25 Re 16:1

accomplish Eze 7:8 13:15 La 4:11 Da 11:36

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

I withdrew Eze 20:17 Job 13:21 Ps 78:38 La 2:8

wrought Eze 20:9,14,22 Ps 25:11 79:9,10 115:1 Isa 48:9-11 Jer 14:7,21 Da 9:17,19

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;

lifted Eze 20:15 De 32:40 Re 10:5,6

that I. The predictions of the dispersion of Israel, delivered by Moses just before his death, are evidently here referred to; they received a partial accomplishment at the Babylonian captivity but are more exactly fulfilling at this day Le 26:33 De 28:64-68 32:26,27 Ps 106:27 Jer 15:4

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

they had Eze 20:13,14

their eyes Eze 6:9 18:6,12,15 De 4:19 Job 31:26,27 Am 2:4

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

I gave The simple meaning of this place is, that when the Israelites had rebelled against God, despised his statutes, and polluted his sabbaths, in effect cast him off, and given themselves up wholly to their idols, then He, in a just judgment for their disobedience abandoned them, `gave them up to a reprobate mind,' Ro 1:28

and suffered them to walk after the idolatrous, cruel, and impious customs and ordinances of the heathen; by which they were ripened for the destruction which he intended to bring upon them, that they might learn to know God by his judgments, seeing they had despised his mercies. In the same sense God is said judicially to `send a strong delusion, that they should believe a lie' to those who `received not the love of the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.' Eze 20:26,39 14:9-11 De 4:27,28 28:36 Ps 81:12 Isa 66:4 Ro 1:21-28 2th 2:9-11

26 And I 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 might know that I am the LORD.

polluted Eze 20:31 Isa 63:17 Ro 11:7-10

in that Eze 16:20,21 Le 18:21 2Ki 17:17 21:6 2Ch 28:3 33:6 Jer 32:35

all that Ex 13:12 Lu 2:23

to the end Eze 6:7

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

speak Eze 2:7 3:4,11,27

Yet Ro 2:24 Re 13:5

committed [heb] trespassed

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

when I Jos 23:3,4,14 Ne 9:22-26 Ps 78:55-58

the which Eze 20:6,15 Ge 15:18-21 26:3,4 Ps 105:8-11

they saw Eze 6:13 Ps 78:58 Isa 57:5-7 Jer 2:7 3:6

their sweet Eze 16:19

29 Then I said unto them, What is the high place whereunto ye go? And the name whereof is called Bamah unto this day.

I said, or I told them what the high place was, or, Bamah
And the Eze 16:24,25,31

30 Wherefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Are ye polluted after the manner of your fathers? and commit ye whoredom after their abominations?

Are ye Nu 32:14 Jud 2:19 Jer 7:26 9:14 16:12 Mt 23:32 Ac 7:51

31 For when ye offer your gifts, when ye make your sons to pass through the fire, ye pollute yourselves with all your idols, even unto this day: and 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.

ye offer Eze 20:26 De 18:10-12 Ps 106:37-39 Jer 7:31 19:5

and shall Eze 20:3 14:3,4 1Sa 28:5,6 2Ki 3:13,14 Job 27:8,10 Ps 66:18 Pr 1:27,28 28:9 Isa 1:15 Jer 14:12 Zec 7:13 Mt 25:11,12 Jas 4:1-3

32 And that which cometh into your mind shall not be at all, that ye say, We will be as the heathen, as the families of the countries, to serve wood and stone.

that which Eze 11:5 38:10 Ps 139:2 Pr 19:21 La 3:37

We will 1Sa 8:5 Jer 44:17,29 Ro 12:2

to serve De 4:28 28:36,64 29:17 Isa 37:19 Da 5:4 Re 9:20

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:

surely Eze 8:18 Jer 21:5 42:18 44:6 La 2:4 Da 9:11,12

34 And I 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.

Eze 20:38 34:16 Isa 27:9-13 Am 9:9,10

35 And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face.

I will Eze 20:36 19:13 38:8 Ho 2:14 Mic 4:10 7:13-15 Re 12:14

and there Eze 17:20 38:22 Jer 2:9,35 Ho 4:1 Mic 6:1,2

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.

Eze 20:13,21 Ex 32:7 Nu 11:1-33 14:1-45 16:1-50 25:1-18 Ps 106:15 1Co 10:5-10

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

pass Eze 34:17 Le 27:32 Jer 33:13 Mt 25:32,33

I will Eze 16:59,60 Le 26:25 Ps 89:30-32 Am 3:2

the bond. or, a delivering

38 And I 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 they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.

I will purge Eze 11:21 34:17,20-22 Nu 14:28-30 Am 9:9,10 Zec 13:8,9 Mal 3:3 4:1-3 Mt 3:9,10,12 25:32,33 Ro 9:27-29

they shall Eze 13:9 Nu 14:30 Ps 95:11 Jer 44:14 1Co 10:5 Heb 4:6 Jude 1:5

and ye Eze 6:7 15:7 23:49 Ps 9:16

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 Eze 20:25,26 Jud 10:14 2Ki 3:13 Ps 81:12 Ho 4:17 Am 4:4,5 Ro 1:24-28 2Th 2:11 2:11

but Eze 23:37-39 Pr 21:27 Isa 1:13-15 66:3 Jer 7:9-11 Zep 1:4,5 Mt 6:24 Re 3:15,16

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.

in mine These predictions received a partial accomplishment by the restoration of the Jews from the Babylonian captivity; but they seem chiefly to relate to the establishment of the Christian church, and more especially to the future conversion of the jews, and their restoration to their own land. Eze 17:23 Ps 2:6 68:15,16 Isa 2:2,3 66:20 Jer 31:12 Joe 3:17,18 Ob 1:16 Mic 4:1,2 Heb 12:20-22 Re 21:10

there shall Eze 37:22-28 Isa 56:7 60:7 66:23 Zec 8:20-23 Mal 1:11 3:4 Re 12:1 Heb 13:15 1Pe 2:5

first fruits. or, chief

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

with your Eze 20:28 6:13 Ge 8:21 Le 1:9,13,17 Eph 5:2 Php 4:18

sweet savour [heb] savour of rest
I bring Eze 11:17 34:19 36:24 37:25 38:8 Isa 11:11-16 27:12,13 Jer 23:3 30:3,18 32:37 Am 9:14 Ob 1:17-21 Mic 7:12-16

and I will Eze 28:22,25 38:23 39:27-29 Le 10:3 Isa 5:16 Lu 2:14 1Pe 3:15

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.

ye shall Eze 20:38,44 24:24 36:23 38:23 Jer 24:7 31:34 Joh 17:3 1Jo 5:20

when I Eze 11:17-20 34:13 36:24 37:21,25

for the which Eze 20:15

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.

shall ye Eze 6:9 Le 26:39-41 Ne 1:8-10 Ho 5:15

and ye shall Eze 16:61-63 36:31 Job 42:6 Jer 31:18 Zec 12:10-14 Lu 18:13 2Co 7:11

44 And ye shall know that I am the LORD when I have wrought with you for my name's sake, not according to your wicked ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, O ye house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.

And ye shall Eze 20:38 24:24

when I Eze 20:9,14,22 36:21,22 Ps 79:9 115:1 Eph 1:6 1Ti 1:16

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

Moreover. This is the beginning of another prophecy, and properly belongs to the following chapter.

46 Son of man, set thy face toward the south, and drop thy word toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the south field;

set Eze 4:7 6:2

toward. Towards Judea, which lay south of Mesopotamia, where the prophet now dwelt.

and drop Eze 21:2 De 32:2 Job 29:22 Am 7:16 Mic 2:6

the forest The city of Jerusalem, as full of inhabitants as the forest is of trees. Jer 13:19 22:7 Zec 11:1,2

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

I will kindle. I will send war; and it shall destroy all ranks and characters of the people Eze 15:6,7 19:14 22:20,21 De 32:22 Isa 9:18,19 30:33 Jer 21:14

green Eze 17:24 Lu 23:31

the flaming Isa 66:24 Mr 9:43-49

from the south Eze 21:3,4 Isa 24:1-6

48 And all flesh shall see that I the LORD have kindled it: it shall not be quenched.

De 29:24-28 2Ch 7:20-22 Isa 26:11 Jer 40:2,3 La 2:16,17

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

Doth. Is it not his usual custom to deal in enigmas? His figures are not to be understood; we should not trouble ourselves with them. God therefore commands the prophet to declare, in the next chapter, the same things in the plainest terms, so that they should not complain of his parables. Mt 13:13,14 Joh 16:25 Ac 17:18