Ezekiel 20:16

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezekiel 20:10-26

The history of the struggle between the sins of Israel, by which they endeavoured to ruin themselves, and the mercies of God, by which he endeavoured to save them and make them happy, is here continued: and the instances of that struggle in these verses have reference to what passed between God and them in the wilderness, in which God honoured himself and they shamed themselves. The story of Israel in the wilderness is referred to in the New Testament (1 Cor. 10:1-33; Heb. 3:1-19), as well as... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 20:16

Because they despised my judgments, and walked not in my statutes, but polluted my sabbaths ,.... Which were just causes of divine resentment and anger; See Gill on Ezekiel 20:13 ; for their heart went after their idols ; which they had served in Egypt; and that led them off from the true worship and service of God; no man can serve two masters; if he holds to the one, and his heart is towards him, he will despise the other; and yet these idols were no other, as the word signifies,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 20:16

Verse 16 The reason of the oath of which mention has been made is expressed by Moses, because being frightened by a false report they wished to return to Egypt: but here a cause is assigned to their superstitions. (Numbers 13:32, and Numbers 14:1.) But it suits each case well, since if they had been sincerely obedient to God, they would never have refused to remove their camp, and fearlessly to proceed where he commanded them. But since they first detested the land, and then terror and despair... 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 20:10-17

The memory of the wilderness of Sinai. The circumstances employed by the Most High to make Israel a nation were of the most marvellous and romantic kinds. Psalmists and prophets, nay, even Christian apostles and deacons, looking back upon the events of early Israelitish history, felt the fascination of the ancient story, of the emancipation from Egypt, and of the lengthened discipline of the wilderness, by which the tribes were welded into a nation and fitted for the possession of the land... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 20:10-26

God, and Israel in the wilderness. "Wherefore I caused them to go forth out of the land of Egypt," etc. The chief teachings of this section of the chapter may be developed under the following heads. I. THE KINDNESS OF GOD IN HIS DEALINGS WITH HIS PEOPLE . This is brought into our notice in four respects. 1 . In the deeds which be wrought for them . "l caused them to go forth out of the land of Egypt, and brought them into the wilderness." Their emancipation... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 20:16

Their heart went after their idols. The words may point generally to the fact that the idolatrous tendencies of the people, though suppressed, were not really eradicated. The history of Baal-peor ( Numbers 25:3-9 ) shows how ready they were to pass into act, and Amos 5:25 , Amos 5:26 implies a tradition of other like acts during the whole period of the wanderings in the wilderness. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ezekiel 20:10-26

The probation in the wilderness. The promise was forfeited by those to whom it was first conditionally made, but was renewed to their children.Ezekiel 20:11The “statutes” were given on Mount Sinai, and repeated by Moses before his death (Exodus 20:1 ff; Deuteronomy 4:8).In them - Or, through them: and in Ezekiel 20:13.Ezekiel 20:12See Exodus 31:13. The Sabbath was a sign of a special people, commemorative of the work of creation, and hallowed to the honor of Yahweh, the covenant-God. As man... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ezekiel 20:13-17

Ezekiel 20:13-17. But the house of Israel Not a few, but the generality of the people; rebelled against me Were undutiful, disobedient, contumacious, and even openly and repeatedly rebellious; in the wilderness Where they were receiving daily and great mercies from me; where they were on their way to Canaan, and were peculiarly dependant upon me for direction in the way, protection from their enemies, and the supply of all their wants; where they most needed my care and favour, and... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 20:1-26

Idolatry in the past (20:1-26)Ezekiel records another occasion when the leaders of the exiles came to him with certain questions. God told him not to waste time dealing with their questions (20:1-3). Rather Ezekiel was to deal with the more important issue of the people’s false understanding of God. Since wrong attitudes had been passed on from generation to generation, Ezekiel began to recount Israel’s history from the time the people were in Egypt (4-6). Even in Egypt they had been attracted... read more

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