Text -- Ezekiel 20:1-5 (NET)

Israel’s Rebellion

20:1 In the seventh year, in the fifth month, on the tenth of the month, some of the elders of Israel came to seek the Lord, and they sat down in front of me. 20:2 The word of the Lord came to me: 20:3 “Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel, and tell them: ‘This is what the sovereign Lord says: Are you coming to seek me? As surely as I live, I will not allow you to seek me, declares the sovereign Lord.’ 20:4 “Are you willing to pronounce judgment? Are you willing to pronounce judgment, son of man? Then confront them with the abominable practices of their fathers, 20:5 and say to them: “‘This is what the sovereign Lord says: On the day I chose Israel I swore to the descendants of the house of Jacob and made myself known to them in the land of Egypt. I swore to them, “I am the Lord your God.”

Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: Eze 20:1

¹ sn The date would be August 14th, 591 b.c. The seventh year is the seventh year of Jehoiachin’s exile.

² tn Heb “men from the elders.”

³ tn See the note at 14:3.

NET Notes: Eze 20:3

¹ tn Or “I will not reveal myself to you.”

NET Notes: Eze 20:4

¹ tn Heb “will you judge.” Here the imperfect form of the verb is probably used with a desiderative nuance. Addressed to the prophet, “judge” means to warn of or pronounce God’s impending judgment.

NET Notes: Eze 20:5

¹ tn Heb “I lifted up my hand.”

² tn Heb “seed.”

³ tn Heb “I lifted up my hand.”