Ezekiel 20

1 And it came to pass in the seventh year, in the fifth month, the tenth day of the month, that certain of the elders of Yisrael came to enquire of יהוה, and sat before me.

2 Then came the word of יהוה unto me, saying,

3 “Son of man, speak unto the elders of Yisrael, and say unto them, ‘Thus saith Lord (Adonai) יהוה: “Are you come to enquire of Me? As I live,” saith Lord (Adonai) יהוה, “I will not be enquired of by you.”’

4 Wilt you judge them, son of man, wilt you judge them? Cause them to know the abominations of their fathers:

5 And say unto them, ‘Thus saith Lord (Adonai) יהוה: “On the day when I chose Yisrael, and lifted up mine hand unto the seed of the house of Jacob (Yaaqov), and made Myself known unto them in the land of Egypt (Mitsrayim), when I lifted up Mine hand unto them, saying, ‘I am יהוה your God (Elohim).’

6 On that day that I lifted up Mine hand unto them, to bring them forth of the land of Egypt (Mitsrayim) into a land that I had espied for them, ‘flowing with milk and honey,’ which is the glory of all lands.

7 Then said I unto them, ‘Cast you away every man the abominations of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt (Mitsrayim): I am יהוה your God (Elohim).’

8 But they rebelled against Me, and would not hearken unto Me; they did not every man cast away the abominations of their eyes, neither did they forsake the idols of Egypt (Mitsrayim); then I said, ‘I will pour out My fury upon them, to accomplish My anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt (Mitsrayim).’

9 But I wrought for My name’s sake, that it should not be polluted before the nations, among whom they were, in whose sight I made Myself known unto them, in bringing them forth out of the land of Egypt (Mitsrayim).

10 Wherefore I caused them to go forth out of the land of Egypt (Mitsrayim), and brought them into the wilderness.

11 And I gave them My statutes, and shewed them My judgments, ‘which if a man does, he shall even live in them.’

12 Moreover also I gave them My Shabbats, to be a sign between Me and them, that they might know that I am יהוה that sanctify them.

13 But the house of Yisrael rebelled against Me in the wilderness; they walked not in My statutes, and they despised My judgments, ‘which if a man does, he shall even live by them;’ and My Shabbats they greatly polluted; then I said, I would pour out My fury upon them in the wilderness, to consume them.

14 But I wrought for My name’s sake, that it should not be polluted before the nations, in whose sight I brought them out.

15 Yet also I lifted up My hand unto them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands;

16 Because they despised My judgments, and walked not in My statutes, but polluted My Shabbats; for their heart went after their idols.

17 Nevertheless Mine eye spared them from destroying them, neither did I make an end of them in the wilderness.

18 But I said unto their children in the wilderness, ‘Walk you not in the statutes of your fathers, neither observe their judgments, nor defile yourselves with their idols.

19 I am יהוה your God (Elohim); walk in My statutes, and keep My judgments, and do them;

20 And hallow My Shabbats; and they shall be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that I am יהוה your God (Elohim).’

21 Notwithstanding the children rebelled against Me; they walked not in My statutes, neither kept My judgments to do them, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; they polluted My Shabbats: then I said I would pour out My fury upon them, to accomplish My anger against them in the wilderness.

22 Nevertheless I withdrew Mine hand, and wrought for My name’s sake, that it should not be polluted in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I brought them forth.

23 I lifted up Mine hand unto them also in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the nations, and disperse them through the countries;

24 Because they had not executed My judgments, but had despised My statutes, and had polluted My Shabbats, and their eyes were after their fathers’ idols.

25 Wherefore I gave them also statutes that were not good, and judgments whereby they should not live;

26 And I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused to pass through the fire all that openeth the womb, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I am יהוה.

27 Therefore, son of man, speak unto the house of Yisrael, and say unto them, ‘Thus saith Lord (Adonai) יהוה: “Yet in this your fathers have blasphemed Me, in that they have committed a trespass against Me.

28 For when I had brought them into the land, for the which I lifted up Mine hand to give it to them, then they saw every high hill, and all the thick trees, and they offered there their sacrifices, and there they presented the provocation of their offering; there also they made their sweet savour, and poured out there their drink offerings.

29 Then I said unto them, ‘What is the high place whereunto you go?’ And the name thereof is called Bamah unto this day.”’

30 Wherefore say unto the house of Yisrael, ‘Thus saith Lord (Adonai) יהוה: “Are you polluted after the manner of your fathers? And commit you whoredom after their abominations?

31 For when you offer your gifts, when you make your sons to pass through the fire, you pollute yourselves with all your idols, even unto this day; and shall I be enquired of by you, O house of Yisrael? As I live,” saith Lord (Adonai) יהוה, “I will not be enquired of by you.

32 And that which cometh into your mind shall not be at all, that you say, ‘We will be as the nations, as the families of the countries, to serve wood and stone.’

33 “As I live,” saith Lord (Adonai) יהוה, “surely with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with fury poured out, will I rule over you:

34 And I will bring you out from the people, and will gather you out of the countries wherein you are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with fury poured out.

35 And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face.

36 Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt (Mitsrayim), so will I plead with you,” saith Lord (Adonai) יהוה.

37 “And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant;

38 And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me; I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Yisrael; and you shall know that I am יהוה.

39 As for you, O house of Yisrael,” thus saith Lord (Adonai) יהוה: “Go you, serve you every one his idols, and hereafter also, if you will not hearken unto Me; but pollute you My holy name no more with your gifts, and with your idols.

40 For in Mine holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Yisrael,” saith Lord (Adonai) יהוה, “there shall all the house of Yisrael, all of them in the land, serve Me; there will I accept them, and there will I require your offerings, and the firstfruits of your oblations, with all your holy things.

41 I will accept you with your sweet savour, when I bring you out from the people, and gather you out of the countries wherein you have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you before the nations.

42 And you shall know that I am יהוה, when I shall bring you into the land of Yisrael, into the country for the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to your fathers.

43 And there shall you remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein you have been defiled; and you shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that you have committed.

44 And you shall know that I am יהוה, when I have wrought with you for My name’s sake, not according to your wicked ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, O you house of Yisrael,” saith Lord (Adonai) יהוה.’”

45 Moreover the word of יהוה came unto me, saying,

46 “Son of man, set your face toward the south, and drop your word toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the south field;

47 And say to the forest of the south, ‘Hear the word of יהוה. ‘Thus saith Lord (Adonai) יהוה: “Behold, I will kindle a fire in you, and it shall devour every green tree in you, and every dry tree; the flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be burned therein.

48 And all flesh shall see that I יהוה have kindled it; it shall not be quenched.”’”

49 Then said I, “Ah Lord (Adonai) יהוה! They say of me, ‘Doth he not speak parables?’”