Ezekiel 20:1-4

Israel’s Rebellion

20:1 In the seventh year, in the fifth month, on the tenth of the month, ¹  some of the elders ²  of Israel came to seek ³  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, ⁴  declares the sovereign Lord.’ 20:4 “Are you willing to pronounce judgment? ⁵  Are you willing to pronounce judgment, son of man? Then confront them with the abominable practices of their fathers,

[20:1]  ¹ sn The date would be August 14th, 591 b.c. The seventh year is the seventh year of Jehoiachin’s exile.

[20:1]  ² tn Heb “men from the elders.”

[20:1]  ³ tn See the note at 14:3.

[20:3]  ⁴ tn Or “I will not reveal myself to you.”

[20:4]  ⁵ 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.