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 Israel came to inquire of the Lord, and sat before me.
2 Then came the word of the Lord unto me, saying,
3 Son of man, speak unto the elders of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Are ye come to inquire of me? As I live, saith the Lord God, I will not be inquired of by you.
4 Wilt thou judge them, son of man, wilt thou judge them? cause them to know the abominations of their fathers:
5 And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; In the day when I 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;
6 In the day that I lifted up mine hand unto them, to bring them forth of the land of Egypt 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 ye away every man the abominations of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.
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: 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.
9 But I wrought for my name’s sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, among whom they were, in whose sight I made myself known unto them, in bringing them forth out of the land of Egypt.
10 Wherefore I caused them to go forth out of the land of Egypt, and brought them into the wilderness.
11 And I gave them my statutes, and shewed them my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them.
12 Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord that sanctify them.
13 But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness: they walked not in my statutes, and they despised my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; and my sabbaths 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 heathen, 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 sabbaths: 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 ye not in the statutes of your fathers, neither observe their judgments, nor defile yourselves with their idols:
19 I am the Lord your God; walk in my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them;
20 And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the Lord your God.
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 sabbaths: 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 heathen, 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 heathen, and disperse them through the countries;
24 Because they had not executed my judgments, but had despised my statutes, and had polluted my sabbaths, 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 the Lord.
27 Therefore, son of man, speak unto the house of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; 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 ye go? And the name thereof is called Bamah unto this day.
30 Wherefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God; Are ye polluted after the manner of your fathers? and commit ye whoredom after their abominations?
31 For when ye offer your gifts, when ye make your sons to pass through the fire, ye pollute yourselves with all your idols, even unto this day: and shall I be inquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live, saith the Lord God, I will not be inquired of by you.
32 And that which cometh into your mind shall not be at all, that ye say, We will be as the heathen, as the families of the countries, to serve wood and stone.
33 As I live, saith the Lord God, surely with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out 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 ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out 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, so will I plead with you, saith the Lord God.
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 Israel: and ye shall know that I am the Lord.
39 As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith the Lord God; Go ye, serve ye every one his idols, and hereafter also, if ye will not hearken unto me: but pollute ye 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 Israel, saith the Lord God, there shall all the house of Israel, 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 ye have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you before the heathen.
42 And ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall bring you into the land of Israel, into the country for the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to your fathers.
43 And there shall ye remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein ye have been defiled; and ye shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that ye have committed.
44 And ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I have wrought with you for my name’s sake, not according to your wicked ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, O ye house of Israel, saith the Lord God.
45 Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
46 Son of man, set thy face toward the south, and drop thy 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 the Lord; Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour every green tree in thee, 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 the Lord have kindled it: it shall not be quenched.
49 Then said I, Ah Lord God! they say of me, Doth he not speak parables?

1And it came to passe in the seuenth yeere, in the fift moneth, the tenth day of the moneth, that certaine of the elders of Israel came to enquire of the Lord, and sate before me.

2Then came the word of the Lord vnto me, saying,

3Sonne of man, speake vnto the elders of Israel, and say vnto them, Thus saith the Lord God, Are yee come to enquire of me? As I liue, saith the Lord God, I will not be enquired of by you.

4Wilt thou iudge them, sonne of man, wilt thou iudge them? cause them to know the abominations of their fathers:

5 And say vnto them, Thus saith the Lord God, In the day when I chose Israel, and lifted vp mine hand vnto the seed of the house of Iacob, and made my selfe knowen vnto them in the land of Egypt, when I lifted vp mine hand vnto them, saying, I am the Lord your God,

6In the day that I lifted vp mine hand vnto them to bring them foorth of the land of Egypt, into a lande that I had espied for them, flowing with milke and hony, which is the glory of all lands:

7Then said I vnto them, Cast ye away euery man the abominations of his eyes, and defile not your selues with the idoles of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.

8But they rebelled against me, and would not hearken vnto mee: they did not euery man cast away the abominations of their eyes, neither did they forsake the idoles of Egypt: then I said, I will powre out my furie vpon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the middest of the land of Egypt.

9But I wrought for my names sake that it should not be polluted before the heathen, among whom they were, in whose sight I made my selfe knowen vnto them, in bringing them foorth out of the land of Egypt.

10 Wherefore I caused them to goe foorth out of the land of Egypt, and brought them into the wildernesse.

11And I gaue them my statutes, and shewed them my iudgements, which if a man doe, he shall euen liue in them.

12Moreouer also, I gaue them my Sabbaths, to be a signe betweene mee and them, that they might know that I am the Lord that sanctifie them.

13But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wildernesse: they walked not in my statutes, and they despised my iudgements, which if a man doe, hee shall euen liue in them, and my sabbaths they greatly polluted: then I said I would powre out my furie vpon them in the wildernesse, to consume them:

14But I wrought for my names sake, that it should not bee polluted before the heathen, in whose sight I brought them out.

15Yet also I lifted vp my hand vnto them in the wildernesse, that I would not bring them into the land which I had giuen them, flowing with milke and hony, which is the glory of all lands,

16Because they despised my iudgements, and walked not in my statutes, but polluted my Sabbaths: for their heart went after their idoles.

17Neuerthelesse, mine eye spared them from destroying them, neither did I make an end of thē in the wildernes.

18But I said vnto their children in the wildernesse; Walke ye not in the statutes of your fathers, neither obserue their iudgements, nor defile your selues with their idoles.

19I am the Lord your God: walke in my statutes, and keepe my iudgements and doe them:

20And hallow my Sabbaths, and they shall be a signe betweene mee and you, that yee may know that I am the Lord your God.

21Notwithstanding the children rebelled against me: they walked not in my statutes, neither kept my iudgements to doe them, which if a man doe, hee shall euen liue in them; they polluted my Sabbaths: then I said I would powre out my furie vpon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the wildernesse.

22Neuerthelesse I withdrew mine hand and wrought for my names sake, that it should not be polluted in the fight of the heathen, in whose sight I brought them foorth.

23I lifted vp mine hand vnto them also in the wildernesse, that I would scatter them among the heathen, and disperse them through the countreys;

24Because they had not executed my iudgements, but had despised my Statutes, and had polluted my Sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers idoles.

25Wherefore I gaue them also statutes that were not good, and iudgements whereby they should not liue.

26And I polluted them in their owne gifts, in that they caused to passe through the fire all that openeth the wombe, that I might make them desolate, to the end, that they might know that I am the Lord.

27 Therefore sonne of man, speake vnto the house of Israel, and say vnto them, Thus saith the Lord God, Yet in this your fathers haue blasphemed me, in that they haue committed a trespasse against me.

28For when I had brought them into the land, for the which I lifted vp mine hand to giue it to them, then they saw euery high hill, and all the thicke trees, and they offered there their sacrifices, and there they presented the prouocation of their offering: there also they made their sweet sauour, and powred out there their drinke offerings.

29Then I said vnto them, What is the high place whereunto ye goe? and the name thereof is called Bamah vnto this day.

30Wherefore say vnto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God, Are ye polluted after the maner of your fathers? and commit ye whoredome after their abominations?

31For when yee offer your gifts, when yee make your sonnes to passe through the fire, ye pollute your selues with all your idoles euen vnto this day: and shall I be inquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I liue, saith the Lord God, I will not be inquired of by you.

32And that which cōmeth into your minde, shall not be at all, that ye say, We wil be as the heathen, as the families of the countreys, to serue wood and stone.

33 As I liue, sayeth the Lord God, surely with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arme, and with furie powred out, will I rule ouer you.

34And I will bring you out from the people, and will gather you out of the countreys wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, & with a stretched out arme, and with fury powred out.

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

36Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wildernes of the land of Egypt, so wil I plead with you, saith the Lord God.

37And I will cause you to passe vnder the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the Couenant.

38And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgresse against mee: I will bring them foorth out of the countrey where they soiourne, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel, and yee shall know that I am the Lord.

39As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith the Lord God, Goe yee, serue ye euery one his idoles, and hereafter also, if ye wil not hearken vnto me: but pollute ye my holy Name no more with your gifts, and with your idoles.

40For in mine holy mountaine, in the mountaine of the height of Israel, saith the Lord God, there shall all the house of Israel, all of them in the land serue me: there will I accept them, and there wil I require your offerings, and the first fruits of your oblations, with all your holy things.

41I will accept you with your sweet sauour, when I bring you out from the people, and gather you out of the countreys wherein yee haue bene scattered, and I wil be sanctified in you before the heathen.

42And ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall bring you into the land of Israel, into the countrey for the which I lifted vp mine hand, to giue it to your fathers.

43And there shall yee remember your wayes, & all your doings, wherein ye haue bene defiled, and ye shal lothe your selues in your owne sight, for all your euils that ye haue committed.

44And ye shal know that I am the Lord, when I haue wrought with you for my Names sake, not according to your wicked wayes, nor according to your corrupt doings, O yee house of Israel, saith the Lord God.

45 Moreouer, the worde of the Lord came vnto me, saying,

46Sonne of man, set thy face toward the South, and drop thy word toward the South, and prophesie against the forrest of the South field.

47And say to the forest of þe South, Heare the word of the Lord: Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall deuoure euery greene tree in thee, and euery dry tree: the flaming flame shal not be quenched, and all faces from the South to the North shalbe burnt therein.

48And all flesh shall see that I the Lord haue kindled it: it shall not be quenched.

49Then said I, Ah Lord God, they say of me, Doeth he not speake parables?

V == Ex 3:8 ; 4:31 ; 6:7-8 ; 20:2 ; Deut 4:34 ; 7:6

VI == Ex 3:8 , 17 ; Deut 8:7-9 ; Ps 48:2 ; Jer 32:22 ; Ezek 20:15 ; Dan 8:9 ; 11:16 , 41 ; Zech 7:14

vII == Lev 17:7 ; 18:3 ; Deut 29:16-18 ; Josh 24:14 ; 2nd Chr 15:8 ; Ezek 18:31

VIII == Ezek 7:8 ; 20:13 , 21

IX == Ex 32:12 ; Num 14:13 ; Deut 9:28 ; Ezek 20:14 , 22 ; 36:21-22

X == Ex 13:18

XI == Lev 18:5 ; Deut 4:8 ; Neh 9:13-14 ; Ps 147:19-20 ; Ezek 20:13 , 21 ; Rom 10:5 ; Gal 3:12

XII == Ex 20:8 ; 31:13 ; 35:2 ; Deut 5:12 ; Neh 9:14

XIII == Ex 16:27 ; Num 14:22 , 29 ; 26:65 ; Ps 78:40 ; 95:8-10

XV == Num 14:28

XVI == Num 15:39 ; Amos 5:25-26 ; Acts 7:42-43

XVII == Ps 78:38

XIX == Deut 5:32-33

XX == Jer 17:22 ; Ezek 20:12

XXI == Num 25:1-2 ; Deut 9:23-24 ; 31:27 ; Ezek 20:8 , 11 , 13

XXII == Ps 78:38 ; Ezek 20:9 , 14 , 17

XXIII == Lev 26:33 ; Deut 28:64 ; Ps 106:27 ; Jer 15:4

XXIV == Ezek 6:9 ; 20:13 , 16

XXV == Ps 81:12 ; Ezek 20:39 ; Rom 1:24 ; 2nd Thess 2:11

XXVi == 2ND kINGS 17:17 ; 21:6 ; 2ND cHR 28:3 ; 33:6 ; jER 32:35 ; eZEK 16:20-21 ; 20:6-7

xxvII == Rom 2:24

XXVIII == Isa 57:5 ; Ezek 6:13 ; 16:19

XXXI == Ezek 20:3 , 26

XXXII == Ezek 11:5

XXXIII == Jer 21:5

XXXV == Jer 2:9 , 35 ; Ezek 17:20

XXXVI == Num 14:21-23 , 28-29

XXXVII == Lev 27:32 ; Jer 33:13

XXXVIII == Jer 44:14 ; Ezek 6:7 ; 15:7 ; 23:49 ; 34:17 , 20 ; Matt 25:32-33

XXXIX == Judg 10:14 ; Ps 81:12 ; Isa 1:13 ; Ezek 23:38-39 ; Amos 4:4

XLI == Eph 5:2 ; Phil 4:18

XLII == Ezek 11:17 ; 20:38 . 44 ; 34:13 ; 36:23-24 ; 38:23

XLIII == Lev 26:39 ; Ezek 6:9 ; 16:61 ; Hos 5:15

XLIV == Ezek 20:38 ; 24:24 ; 36:22

XLVI == Ezek 6:2 ; 21:2

XLVII == Deut 32:2 ; Jer 21:14 ; Ezek 20:46 ; 21:4 ; Amos 7:16 ; Mic 2:6 , 11 ; Luke 23:31

1 In the seventh year, on the tenth day of the fifth month, some of the elders of Israel came to consult the LORD and sat down before me.

2 Then the word of the LORD came to me:

3 Son of man, speak with the elders of Israel and say to them: Thus says the Lord GOD: Have you come to consult me? As I live! I swear I will not allow myself to be consulted by you, says the Lord GOD.

4 Will you judge them? Will you judge, son of man? Make known to them the abominations of their ancestors

5 in these words: Thus speaks the Lord GOD: The day I chose Israel, I swore to the descendants of the house of Jacob; in the land of Egypt I revealed myself to them and swore: I am the LORD, your God.

6 That day I swore to bring them out of the land of Egypt to the land I had scouted for them, a land flowing with milk and honey, a jewel among all lands.

7 Then I said to them: Throw away, each of you, the detestable things that have held your eyes; do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt: I am the LORD, your God.

8 But they rebelled against me and refused to listen to me; none of them threw away the detestable things that had held their eyes, they did not abandon the idols of Egypt. Then I thought of pouring out my fury on them and spending my anger on them there in the land of Egypt;

9 but I acted for my name's sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations among whom they were, in whose presence I had made myself known to them, revealing that I would bring them out of the land of Egypt.

10 Therefore I led them out of the land of Egypt and brought them into the desert.

11 Then I gave them my statutes and made known to them my ordinances, which everyone must keep, to have life through them.

12 I also gave them my sabbaths to be a sign between me and them, to show that it was I, the LORD, who made them holy.

13 But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the desert. They did not observe my statutes, and they despised my ordinances that bring life to those who keep them. My sabbaths, too, they desecrated grievously. Then I thought of pouring out my fury on them in the desert to put an end to them,

14 but I acted for my name's sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations in whose presence I had brought them out.

15 Nevertheless I swore to them in the desert not to bring them to the land I had given them, a land flowing with milk and honey, a jewel among all lands.

16 So much were their hearts devoted to their idols, they had not lived by my statutes, but despised my ordinances and desecrated my sabbaths.

17 But I looked on them with pity, not wanting to destroy them, so I did not put an end to them in the desert.

18 Then I said to their children in the desert: Do not observe the statutes of your parents or keep their ordinances; do not defile yourselves with their idols.

19 I am the LORD, your God: observe my statutes and be careful to keep my ordinances;

20 keep holy my sabbaths, as a sign between me and you to show that I am the LORD, your God.

21 But their children rebelled against me: they did not observe my statutes or keep my ordinances that bring life to those who observe them, and my sabbaths they desecrated. Then I thought of pouring out my fury on them, of spending my anger on them in the desert;

22 but I stayed my hand, acting for my name's sake, lest it be profaned in the sight of the nations in whose presence I brought them out.

23 Nevertheless I swore to them in the desert that I would disperse them among the nations and scatter them over foreign lands;

24 for they did not keep my ordinances, but despised my statutes and desecrated my sabbaths, with eyes only for the idols of their fathers.

25 Therefore I gave them statutes that were not good, and ordinances through which they could not live.

26 I let them become defiled by their gifts, by their immolation of every first-born, so as to make them an object of horror.

27 Therefore speak to the house of Israel, son of man, and tell them: Thus says the Lord GOD: In this way also your fathers blasphemed me, breaking faith with me:

28 when I had brought them to the land I had sworn to give them, and they saw all its high hills and leafy trees, there they offered their sacrifices (there they brought their offensive offerings), there they sent up appeasing odors, and there they poured out their libations.

29 I asked them: To what sort of high place do you betake yourselves? - and so they call it a high place even to the present day.

30 Therefore say to the house of Israel: Thus says the Lord GOD: Will you defile yourselves like your fathers? Will you lust after their detestable idols?

31 By offering your gifts, by making your children pass through the fire, you defile yourselves with all your idols even to this day. Shall I let myself be consulted by you, house of Israel? As I live! says the Lord GOD: I swear I will not let myself be consulted by you.

32 What you are thinking of shall never happen: "We shall be like the nations, like the peoples of foreign lands, serving wood and stone."

33 As I live, says the Lord GOD, with a mighty hand and outstretched arm, with poured-out wrath, I swear I will be king over you!

34 With a mighty hand and outstretched arm, with poured-out wrath, I will bring you out from the nations and gather you from the countries over which you are scattered;

35 then I will lead you to the desert of the peoples, where I will enter into judgment with you face to face.

36 Just as I entered into judgment with your fathers in the desert of the land of Egypt, so will I enter into judgment with you, says the Lord GOD.

37 I will count you with the staff and bring back but a small number.

38 I will separate from you those who have rebelled and transgressed against me; from the land where they sojourned as aliens I will bring them out, but they shall not return to the land of Israel. Thus you shall know that I am the LORD.

39 As for you, house of Israel, thus says the Lord GOD: Come, each one of you, destroy your idols! Then listen to me, and never again profane my holy name with your gifts and your idols.

40 For on my holy mountain, on the mountain height of Israel, says the Lord GOD, there the whole house of Israel without exception shall worship me; there I will accept them, and there I will claim your tributes and the first fruits of your offerings, and all that you dedicate.

41 As a pleasing odor I will accept you, when I have brought you from among the nations and gathered you out of the countries over which you were scattered; and by means of you I will manifest my holiness in the sight of the nations.

42 Thus you shall know that I am the LORD, when I bring you back to the land of Israel, the land which I swore to give to your fathers.

43 There you shall recall your conduct and all the deeds by which you defiled yourselves; and you shall loathe yourselves because of all the evil things you did.

44 And you shall know that I am the LORD when I deal with you thus, for my name's sake, and not according to your evil conduct and corrupt actions, O house of Israel, says the Lord GOD.

v 1-4. This begins a history of Israel’s rebellion. This was Aug. 14, 591 BC, about 11 months since his last prophecy. Elders came to his house again and asked some thing which was inappropriate, perhaps why God permitted captivity. God refuses to answer, but sets up Ezekiel as ajudgetoshow them their sin.

v 5-9. God made promise to Abraham when he was childless, but in Egypt they had become a nation, and God promised deliverance. They didn’t deserve it, but He told them to forsake idols, and brought them out anyway.

v 10--17. God gave Israel a special sign, the Sabbaths, v 12, but they polluted it.

v 18-26. He reminded their children of the same sign, v 20, but they rebelled too.

v 27-32. Israel still worshiped idols, and sacrificed children like other nations.

v 33-44. God brought Israel from Egypt with a mighty hand and He will bring them from where they are scattered with a mighty hand. But, v 37, as a shepherd selects his own sheep as they pass under his rod, God separates Israel at the end of Tribulation, and only those who are His will enter the Millennium. Then they will no more worship idols, but will give true worship to the Lord. They will be very repentant for the evil they as a people have done in the past, but will know the Lord and no longer do evil.

As if he were standing with Edom to the south, Ezekiel tells of the soon destruction coming through all Israel, but the people would not believe or understand.