The defilement of the people described in order to its removal.Ezekiel 36:20They profaned my holy name - Caused it to be dishonored by the pagan who said in scorn, “This is the people of God.” The pagan, seeing the miserable state of the exiles, fancied that Yahweh was no more than a national god, powerless to protect his subjects. read more
Ezekiel 36:17-19. When the house of Israel dwelt in their own land In fulness of bread, ease, and security, as they did in days past; they defiled it Rendered it abominable before God, and uncomfortable to themselves; by their own way and by their doings By the way of their own choice, their wicked way, forsaking my law, despising my counsel, deserting my worship and temple; and by their unholy conversation and unrighteous practices. Their way was before me as the uncleanness of a... read more
Ezekiel 36:20. When they entered unto the heathen, they profaned my holy name 1st, By their evil practices they brought a scandal on God’s name, and gave occasion to the heathen to say, See what profligate wretches these are, who call themselves Jehovah’s peculiar people; judge what sort of a God he is who has such worshippers. The Jews were no credit to their profession wherever they went; but, on the contrary, a reproach to it, and the name of God and his holy religion was blasphemed... read more
For the sake of God’s holy name (36:16-38)God had driven the people of Israel out of their land because their sins had made them unclean in his sight (16-19). Onlooking nations, however, did not see it that way. They mocked God, saying that the removal of Israel from its land showed that he was weak. He could not save his people from the superior gods of the nations (20-21).Therefore, God will correct this misunderstanding and restore his honour by bringing Israel back to its land (22-24). He... read more
I scattered , &c. See Ezekiel 5:12 ; Ezekiel 22:15 . Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 26:33 .Deuteronomy 28:64; Deuteronomy 28:64 ). App-92 . according to their way . See Ezekiel 7:3 , Ezekiel 7:8 ; Ezekiel 18:30 ; Ezekiel 22:31 ; Ezekiel 39:24 . read more
they. Hebrew text reads "he", or "it". A special various reading called Sevir ( App-34 ), and some codices, with Aramaic, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "they". profaned, &c. Ref to Pentateuch (Leviticus 19:12 , &c.) App-92 . holy . See note on Exodus 3:5 . name. See note on Psalms 20:1 . they said to them: i.e. men said of Israel. gone = come. read more
Ezekiel 36:20. These are the people, &c.— The Lord was with them, yet are they driven out of his land. Houbigant. As much as to say, "See what profligate wretches these are, who call themselves by the name of God's peculiar people; when it is evident that they are not so, by his having expelled them for their crimes out of the country which he has given them." See Houbigant. read more
20. profaned my holy name, when they—the heathen said to them—the Israelites. These, c.—The Israelites gave a handle of reproach to the heathen against God, who would naturally say, These who take usury, oppress, commit adultery, &c., and who, in such an abject plight, are "gone forth" as exiles "out of His land," are specimens of what Jehovah can or will effect, for His people, and show what kind of a God this so-called holy, omnipotent, covenant-keeping God must be! (Isaiah 52:5 Romans... read more
The reason for Israel’s scattering 36:16-21 read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 36:20-24
Profanation and pity. The conjunction is somewhat singular. Israel has profaned God's Name. Upon this suggestion the Lord, pitying his own Name, resolves to sanctify it, and to this end, and not for Israel's deserts, succors and restores his people. The several steps in this progress of thought should be attentively traced. I. THE ISRAELITES HAVE PROFANED GOD 'S NAME AMONG THE HEATHEN . They are universally known as the people of Jehovah. When exiled from their land,... read more