Ezekiel 20:13 - Exposition

It is hardly necessary to count up the several instances of rebellion, from the sin of the golden calf onward. Of direct violation of the sabbath we have but two recorded instances ( Exodus 16:27 ; Numbers 15:32 ); but the prophet looked below the surface, and would count a mere formal observance, that did not sanctify the sabbath, as a pollution of the holy day. (For parallel teaching in the prophets, see Isaiah 56:2-4 ; Isaiah 58:13 ; Jeremiah 17:21-27 ; and later on in the history, probably as the result of their teaching, Nehemiah 10:31-33 ; Nehemiah 13:15-22 .) Then I said . The history of Numbers 14:26 and Numbers 26:65 was probably in Ezekiel's thoughts.