Ezekiel 20

1In the seventh year, in the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month, some of the elders of Israel came to inquire of Yahweh, and they sat down in front of me.

2The word of Yahweh came to me:

3“Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel and say to them, ‘This is what Lord Yahweh says: Have you come to inquire of me? As I live, declares Lord Yahweh, I will not let you inquire of me.’

4Will you judge them? Will you judge them, son of man? Then make them know the abominations of their fathers,

5and say to them, ‘This is what Lord Yahweh says: On the day I chose Israel, I lifted my hand in an oath to the offspring of the house of Jacob and made myself known to them in the land of Egypt. I lifted my hand in an oath to them and said, “I am Yahweh your God.”

6On that day I lifted my hand in an oath to them that I would bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land I had searched out for them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the most beautiful of all lands.

7I said to them, “Each of you, throw away the detestable things your eyes are set on, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am Yahweh your God.”

8But they rebelled against me and were not willing to listen to me. Not one of them threw away the detestable things his eyes were set on, and they did not abandon the idols of Egypt. Then I said I would pour out my fury on them and spend my anger against them there in the land of Egypt.

9But I acted for the sake of my name, so that it would not be profaned in the sight of the nations among whom they lived, in whose sight I had made myself known to them by bringing them out of the land of Egypt.

10So I brought them out of the land of Egypt and led them into the wilderness.

11I gave them my statutes and made known to them my ordinances, which bring life to the person who does them.

12I also gave them my Sabbaths as a sign between me and them, so that they would know that I am Yahweh who sanctifies them.

13But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness. They did not walk in my statutes, and they rejected my ordinances, which bring life to the person who does them, and they greatly profaned my Sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out my fury on them in the wilderness to put an end to them.

14But I acted for the sake of my name, so that it would not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I had brought them out.

15I also lifted my hand in an oath to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land I had given them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the most beautiful of all lands,

16because they rejected my ordinances, did not walk in my statutes, and profaned my Sabbaths, for their hearts went after their idols.

17Yet my eye pitied them, and I did not destroy them; I did not put an end to them in the wilderness.

18I said to their children in the wilderness, “Do not walk in the statutes of your fathers, do not keep their ordinances, and do not defile yourselves with their idols.

19I am Yahweh your God. Walk in my statutes, keep my ordinances, and do them.

20Keep my Sabbaths holy, and they will be a sign between me and you, so that you will know that I am Yahweh your God.”

21But the children rebelled against me. They did not walk in my statutes, and they did not keep and do my ordinances, which bring life to the person who does them, and they profaned my Sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out my fury on them and spend my anger against them in the wilderness.

22But I held back my hand and acted for the sake of my name, so that it would not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I had brought them out.

23I also lifted my hand in an oath to them in the wilderness that I would scatter them among the nations and disperse them through the countries,

24because they had not carried out my ordinances, had rejected my statutes, and had profaned my Sabbaths, and their eyes were set on their fathers’ idols.

25So I also gave them statutes that were not good and ordinances by which they could not live.

26I let them become defiled through their own gifts, when they made every firstborn of the womb pass through the fire, so that I might devastate them, so that they would know that I am Yahweh.’

27Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel and say to them, ‘This is what Lord Yahweh says: In this too your fathers blasphemed me, by acting unfaithfully against me.

28When I brought them into the land that I had lifted my hand in an oath to give them, they saw every high hill and every leafy tree, and there they offered their sacrifices, there they presented their offerings that provoked me, there they sent up their soothing aromas, and there they poured out their drink offerings.

29So I said to them, “What is this high place you go to?” And it is called Bamah to this day.’

30Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘This is what Lord Yahweh says: Will you defile yourselves the way your fathers did, and prostitute yourselves by going after their detestable things?

31When you offer your gifts and make your sons pass through the fire, you defile yourselves with all your idols to this day. So should I let you inquire of me, house of Israel? As I live, declares Lord Yahweh, I will not let you inquire of me.

32What is in your mind will never happen, when you say, “Let us be like the nations, like the clans of the lands, serving wood and stone.”

33As I live, declares Lord Yahweh, with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with wrath poured out, I will rule as king over you.

34I will bring you out from the peoples and gather you from the countries where you have been scattered, with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with wrath poured out.

35I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there I will enter into judgment with you face to face.

36Just as I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will enter into judgment with you, declares Lord Yahweh.

37I will make you pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant.

38I will purge from among you the rebels and those who transgress against me. I will bring them out of the land where they live as foreigners, but they will not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am Yahweh.

39As for you, house of Israel, this is what Lord Yahweh says: Go, serve your idols, each of you, now and afterward, if you will not listen to me. But you will no longer profane my holy name with your gifts and your idols.

40For on my holy mountain, the high mountain of Israel, declares Lord Yahweh, there the whole house of Israel, all of them in the land, will serve me. There I will accept them, and there I will require your contributions and the best of your gifts, with all your holy offerings.

41I will accept you as a soothing aroma when I bring you out from the peoples and gather you from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will show myself holy through you in the sight of the nations.

42Then you will know that I am Yahweh, when I bring you into the land of Israel, the land I lifted my hand in an oath to give to your fathers.

43There you will remember your ways and all the deeds by which you defiled yourselves, and you will loathe yourselves for all the evil things you have done.

44You will know that I am Yahweh when I deal with you for the sake of my name, not according to your evil ways or your corrupt deeds, house of Israel, declares Lord Yahweh.’”

45The word of Yahweh came to me:

46“Son of man, set your face toward the south, preach against the south, and prophesy against the forest land of the Negev.

47Say to the forest of the Negev, ‘Hear the word of Yahweh. This is what Lord Yahweh says: I am about to kindle a fire in you, and it will devour every green tree in you and every dry tree. The blazing flame will not be quenched, and every face from south to north will be scorched by it.

48All people will see that I, Yahweh, have kindled it; it will not be quenched.’”

49Then I said, “Ah, Lord Yahweh! They are saying about me, ‘Is he not just telling parables?’”