Ezekiel 20:1-29

Christian Standard Bible

Israel’s Rebellion

20 In the seventh year, in the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month, some of Israel’s elders came to inquire of the Lord,^(A) and they sat down in front of me. ² Then the word of the Lord came to me: ³ “Son of man, speak with the elders of Israel and tell them, ‘This is what the Lord God says: Are you coming to inquire of me? As I live, I will not let you inquire of me.^(B) This is the declaration of the Lord God.’

⁴ “Will you pass judgment against them, will you pass judgment, son of man? Explain the detestable practices of their ancestors to them.^{(C) 5} Say to them, ‘This is what the Lord God says: On the day I chose Israel, I swore an oath^[a](D) to the descendants of Jacob’s house and made myself known to them in the land of Egypt. I swore to them, saying, “I am the Lord your God.”^{(E) 6} On that day I swore^[b] to them that I would bring them out^(F) of the land of Egypt into a land I had searched out for them, a land flowing with milk and honey,^(G) the most beautiful of all lands.^{(H) 7} I also said to them, “Throw away, each of you, the abhorrent things that you prize,^[c] and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt.^(I) I am the Lord your God.”^(J)

⁸ “‘But they rebelled against me and were unwilling to listen to me. None of them threw away the abhorrent things that they prized,^[d] and they did not abandon the idols of Egypt. So I considered pouring out my wrath on them,^(K) exhausting my anger against them within the land of Egypt. ⁹ But I acted for the sake of my name,^(L) so that it would not be profaned in the eyes of the nations they were living among, in whose sight I had made myself known to Israel by bringing them out of Egypt.

¹⁰ “‘So I brought them out of the land of Egypt and led them into the wilderness.^{(M) 11} Then I gave them my statutes and explained my ordinances to them—the person who does them will live by them.^{(N) 12} I also gave them my Sabbaths to serve as a sign between me and them,^(O) so that they would know that I am the Lord who consecrates them.

¹³ “‘But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness.^(P) They did not follow my statutes and they rejected my ordinances—the person who does them will live by them.^(Q) They also completely profaned my Sabbaths.^(R) So I considered pouring out my wrath on them in the wilderness to put an end to them.^{(S) 14} But I acted for the sake of my name, so that it would not be profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out. ¹⁵ However, I swore to them^(T) in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land I had given them—the most beautiful of all lands, flowing with milk and honey— ¹⁶ because they rejected my ordinances, profaned my Sabbaths, and did not follow my statutes. For their hearts went after their idols.^{(U) 17} Yet I spared them from destruction and did not bring them to an end in the wilderness.^(V)

¹⁸ “‘Then I said to their children in the wilderness, “Don’t follow the statutes of your fathers, defile yourselves with their idols, or keep their ordinances.^{(W) 19} I am the Lord your God. Follow my statutes, keep my ordinances, and practice them.^{(X) 20} Keep my Sabbaths holy,^(Y) and they will be a sign between me and you, so you may know that I am the Lord your God.”

²¹ “‘But the children rebelled against me.^(Z) They did not follow my statutes or carefully keep my ordinances—the person who does them will live by them. They also profaned my Sabbaths. So I considered pouring out my wrath on them and exhausting my anger against them in the wilderness. ²² But I withheld my hand and acted for the sake of my name, so that it would not be profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I brought them out. ²³ However, I swore to them in the wilderness that I would disperse them among the nations and scatter them among the countries.^{(AA) 24} For they did not practice my ordinances but rejected my statutes and profaned my Sabbaths, and their eyes were fixed^(AB) on their fathers’ idols. ²⁵ I also gave them statutes that were not good and ordinances^(AC) they could not live by. ²⁶ When they sacrificed every firstborn in the fire,^[e](AD) I defiled them through their gifts in order to devastate them so they would know that I am the Lord.’^(AE)

²⁷ “Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel, and tell them, ‘This is what the Lord God says: In this way also your ancestors blasphemed me by^(AF) committing treachery against me: ²⁸ When I brought them into the land that I swore to give them and they saw any high hill or leafy tree,^(AG) they offered their sacrifices and presented their offensive offerings there. They also sent up their pleasing aromas and poured out their drink offerings there. ²⁹ So I asked them, “What is this high place you are going to?” And it is still called Bamah^[f] today.’