Ezekiel 20

Israel, as rebels against God

God refuses to advise Judah’s leaders

1It was well into summer when some of Israel’s leaders came to me with questions for the LORD. We were in the seventh year of King Jehoiachin’s exile, fifth month [1] on the calendar, sixth day. 2The LORD gave me a message:
3I want you to talk to these leaders. Give them this message:

“What are you doing here? You’ve come to listen to me, huh? As sure as I’m alive, I won’t be giving you any advice today.” 4Human, I want you to condemn these people for the repulsive things they and their ancestors have done.

Israel broke the law

5Tell them the Lord God says this:
I made a promise to your ancestors a long time ago. I swore this to the descendants of Jacob while they were still captives in the land of Egypt: “I am the Lord your God.” 6And I made them a promise that I would lead them out of Egypt and into a land where milk and honey flow like rivers—the best land around.

7I told them, “Throw away those disgusting idols you worship. Don't dirty up yourself with Egypt’s gods. I am the Lord your God.” 8But they weren't ready to do that. They refused to throw away those disgusting idols. Not a single one of those people did what I told them to do.

9But I had made them a promise, so I kept my word. I didn’t want to waffle on that promise. Other nations were watching. I led them out of Egypt. 10I led them out of Egypt and into the desert and the wasteland. 11I gave them my rules and regulations to live by.

Israel desecrates the Sabbath

12And I gave them the Sabbath, a time for us together. I did this so they would know that I am the LORD and that I consider them a holy [2] nation—my people uniquely devoted it to me.

13But they rejected me right there in the desert badlands. They ignored my laws and regulations. They did this even though I told them that if they obeyed these laws, I would protect them. They not only rejected my laws, but they also treated the holy Sabbath like any other day of the week. I considered putting an end to them right then and there. 14But I honored the promise I made to them so the nations watching this would know that I keep my promises. 15Instead of wiping them out, I told them there in the desert that I would no longer take them into the land where milk and honey flow like rivers, the best land in the area.

16I explained to them that I made this decision because they rejected my laws and refused to obey my regulations and they treated the Sabbath like just another day. In addition, they still loved their idols. 17But I decided to spare them. I did not wipe them out in the desert.

God tells kids not to worship parents’ idols

18I spoke to the children of the people. I told them, “Children, don’t follow the example of your Dad and Mom. It’s wrong of them to worship idols. 19Children, I am the LORD your God. Obey my laws. Be careful to do what I say. 20Respect the Sabbath as a special day for the two of us. I want you to get to know me and to understand what I mean when I say that I am the LORD your God.”

21But the children turned against me. They did not follow my laws. They did not treat my Sabbath as a special day. That made me angry. And I thought again about wiping them out and starting over. 22But I didn't wipe them out. I kept my promises so the nations would see that I honor the promises I make.

God promises to scatter Israel

23That's why I made another promise to them. I said that one day I would scatter them throughout the region to countries all over. [3]

24I said I would do this because they did not obey my laws and they treated my Sabbath like any other day of the week, and they hung on to those ancient idols. 25So, I let them live by their own terrible laws even though I would have to punish them for it.

26They brought me terrible offerings that I didn’t want, including the first children born in their families. When I saw them doing that, I wanted to hit them hard with punishment—hard enough to help them appreciate that I am the LORD.

27So, human, I want you to give the people of Israel this message. Tell them the LORD God said this: Your ancestors, those treacherous people, turned their backs on me and insulted me. 28When I brought them into this land that I promised to give them, they offered sacrifices to their idols on every high hill and under every shade tree. They sacrificed animals and they offered wine as a liquid offering. It produced a pleasant odor for their gods.

29I confronted them with the question, “What do you think you’re doing worshipping on this high hill?” That place has been known as High Hill ever since.” 30So, tell the people of Israel that the LORD God says:

Are you going to do what your ancestors did? Are you going to continue to dirty yourself up with these disgusting worship practices? 31Are you going to keep offering me those repulsive gifts, like when you burn your children as a sacrifice or when you worship those disgusting idols? If you do this when you come to me with a request, I want you to know I will not answer.

32You keep telling yourself you can be like the other nations, and worship gods made of wood and stone. I'm here to tell you right now that’s not going to continue.

God will bring the Jewish people home

33As sure as I’m the living Lord God, I’m going to be your king. 34I'm going to gather you up from the scattered countries in which you are living. 35I will free you again, and this time I will lead you into the wilderness of nations. [4] That's where I personally [5] will judge you. 36I'm going to judge you just like I did your ancestors in the desert.

37I will make each one of you walk past my staff as a public way of pledging to honor the covenant agreement we have with each other. 38I will separate those rebels from the rest of you. I will free them like I freed the people of Israel. But these rebels will be treated like foreigners. They will not be treated like members of my nation in the land of Israel. You will know that I am the Lord when I do this.

39But for you people of Israel right now, go ahead and worship your idols now and forever if you want. But I'm telling you there is coming a day when you will no longer trash my name by bringing those disgusting gifts to me and trying to worship me as just another idol. 40For the true people of Israel will gather on the holy mountain of Jerusalem. That's where you’ll bring your best offerings—sacred gifts that I’ll accept.

41I’ll accept your offerings burned on the altar. And I’ll enjoy the pleasant scent they produce. I will gather you from all those scattered nations where you are living now and I’ll convince the nations that I consider you a unique people, holy and devoted to me as I am to you. 42You will figure it out, that I am the LORD, when I finally bring you back to the land of Israel—the country I promised to give to your ancestors.

43When you get there, you’ll remember all the bad things you did and how you spiritually trashed your life. These will be terrible memories for you. They’ll leave you feeling bad about yourselves.

44But you, dear people of Israel, will figure out that I am the LORD God when I deal with you in a way that reflects who I am instead of what you used to be.

Fire in the Negev

45The LORD gave me a message:
46Human, I want you to turn and look to the south because I want you to prophesy against the forest in the Negev.

47I want you to tell the people who live there:
I am going to start a fire [6] and it is going to consume every green tree you have and every dead tree just hanging around. Those flames won’t stop until every part of your forest is black, from north to south. People will feel the heat. 48It will be so intense that people will realize it could only have come from me.

49When the LORD was done talking, I said, “Yes, Lord God. But these people criticize me and say, ‘Ezekiel sure loves his riddles.’”

Footnotes

120:1

Av (July-August) is the fifth month on the Jewish calendar. They followed a lunar calendar, guided by changes in the moon each month. The date was 597 BC, about a decade before Babylon would invade Judah and level the cities, including Jerusalem.