Ezekiel 20:38-41

20:38 I will eliminate from among you the rebels and those who revolt ¹  against me. I will bring them out from the land where they have been residing, but they will not come to the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord.

20:39 “‘As for you, O house of Israel, this is what the sovereign Lord says: Each of you go and serve your idols, ²  if you will not listen to me. ³  But my holy name will not be profaned ⁴  again by your sacrifices ⁵  and your idols. 20:40 For there on my holy mountain, the high mountain of Israel, declares the sovereign Lord, all the house of Israel will serve me, all of them ⁶  in the land. I will accept them there, and there I will seek your contributions and your choice gifts, with all your holy things. 20:41 When I bring you out from the nations and gather you from the lands where you are scattered, I will accept you along with your soothing aroma. I will display my holiness among you in the sight of the nations.

[20:38]  ¹ tn See the note at 2:3.

[20:39]  ² sn Compare the irony here to Amos 4:4 and Jer 44:25.

[20:39]  ³ tn Heb “and after, if you will not listen to me.” The translation leaves out “and after” for smoothness. The text is difficult. M. Greenberg (Ezekiel [AB], 1:374) suggests that it may mean “but afterwards, if you will not listen to me…” with an unspoken threat.

[20:39]  ⁴ sn A similar concept may be found in Lev 18:21; 20:3.

[20:39]  ⁵ tn Or “gifts.”

[20:40]  ³ tn Heb “all of it.”