Ezekiel 20:5

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezekiel 20:5-9

The history of the ingratitude and rebellion of the people of Israel here begins as early as their beginning; so does the history of man's apostasy from his Maker. No sooner have we read the story of our first parents? creation than we immediately meet with that of their rebellion; so we see here it was with Israel, a people designed to represent the body of mankind both in their dealings with God and in his with them. Here is, I. The gracious purposes of God's law concerning Israel in Egypt,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 20:5

And say unto them, thus saith the Lord God ,.... Here begins the account of their fathers; of God's unmerited goodness to them, and of their sins and transgressions against him, and how it fared with them: in the day when I chose Israel ; to be his peculiar people, above all people on the face of the earth; when he declared his choice of them, and made it appear that he had chosen them, and distinguished them, by special blessings and favours bestowed on them: and lifted up mine hand... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 20:5

I chose Israel - They did not choose me for their God, till I had chosen them to be my people. I lifted up mine hand - I bound myself in a covenant to them to continue to be their God, if they should be faithful, and continue to be my people. Among the Jews the juror lifted up his right hand to heaven; which explains Psalm 144:8 ; : "Their right hand is a right hand of falsehood." This is a form used in England, Scotland, and Ireland. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 20:5

Verse 5 God confirms what I said before, that the Jews were not to be reproved for beginning lately to sin: it was not sufficient to bring recent offenses before them; but God orders the Prophet to begin with their fathers, as if he had said that the nation was abandoned from the very beginning, as Stephen reproaches them: Uncircumcised in heart, you still resist the Holy Spirit, as your fathers always did. (Acts 7:51.) And Christ had said the same thing before: You fill up the measure of your... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 20:1-32

Unacceptable prayer. The exact date is given as a voucher for truthfulness. The prophet committed to writing at once what had occurred. The people are yet divided by distance—part dwell in Judaea and tart in Chaldea. In a spirit of vain curiosity the eiders of the exiled part approach the prophet to inquire after the destined fortunes and fate of their nation. Had they sought for guidance or help to amend their lives, their prayer had been successful. God does not pander to a spirit of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 20:5-6

In the day that I lifted up mine hand. The attitude was that of one who takes an oath ( Exodus 6:8 ), and implies the confirmation of the covenant made with Abraham. The land flowing with milk and honey appears first in Exodus 3:8 , and became proverbial. The glory of all lands is peculiar to Ezekiel. Isaiah ( Isaiah 13:19 ) applies the word to Babylon. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 20:5-7

The elect Israel. The elect Israel is a type of the people of God, the spiritual Israel. Consider the peculiarities of the one as indications of the special marks of the other. I. THE WAY IN WHICH ISRAEL WAS MADE AN ELECT NATION . 1 . Chosen by God . This is the root idea of election. God chooses his people before they choose him—chooses them out of the multitude, and so constitutes them a separate nation. The grounds of the choice rest with him and need not... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 20:5-9

The memory of the great deliverance. The continuity of the national life seems to have been as constantly present to the mind of Ezekiel as was the fact of individual responsibility. He distinguished between national and personal character; but both were in his apprehension real. It is certainly remarkable that, in answering as he was directed to do, the application of the elders, he should proceed to epitomize the history of the nation. His aim seems to have been to show that the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 20:5-9

God, and Israel in Egypt. "And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; In the day when I chose Israel," etc. This paragraph sets forth the dealings of God with his people in the land of Egypt. I. THE CHOICE OF THE PEOPLE BY GOD . "Thus saith the Lord; In the day when chose Israel, and lifted up mine hand unto the seed of the house of Jacob, and made myself known unto them in the land of Egypt, when I lifted up mine hand unto them, saying, I am the Lord your God." The day... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ezekiel 20:5-9

The children of Israel in Egypt were warned to abstain from the idolatry of the pagan. This purpose they lost sight of, yet God spared them and brought them into another state of probation.Ezekiel 20:5Lifted up mine hand - i. e., sware, because the hand was lifted up in adjuration.Ezekiel 20:8Idols of Egypt - These incidental notices show the children of Israel in Egypt to have been addicted to idolatry. Compare Joshua 24:14.Ezekiel 20:9I wrought for my name’s sake - Lest it should appear to... read more

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