וַיְהִי בַּשָּׁנָה הַשְּׁבִיעִית בַּחֲמִשִׁי בֶּעָשֹׂור לַחֹדֶשׁ בָּאוּ אֲנָשִׁים מִזִּקְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לִדְרֹשׁ אֶת־יְהוָה וַיֵּשְׁבוּ   20:1     לְפָנָי׃

Ezek. 20:1   And it was in the seventh year, in the fifth month, on the month's tenth day, men from the elders of Israel came to seek the Lord, and sat before me.

Ezekiel started describing his experiences in this book in the fifth year, the fourth month, and the fifth day.  So it is now two years, one month, and five days since then.  The month is Av, and the year is probably 590 BCE, four years -- possibly to the day -- before the fall of Jerusalem.  Now since Ezekiel is in reality in Babylon, this must be another vision.

וַיְהִי דְבַר־יְהוָה אֵלַי לֵאמֹר׃   20:2

Ezek. 20:2   And the word of the Lord occurred to me saying,

בֶּן־אָדָם דַּבֵּר אֶת־זִקְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאָמַרְתָּ אֲלֵהֶם כֹּה אָמַר אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה הֲלִדְרֹשׁ אֹתִי אַתֶּם בָּאִים   20:3 חַי־אָנִי אִם־אִדָּרֵשׁ לָכֶם נְאֻם אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה׃

Ezek. 20:3   “Human, tell the elders of Israel, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Master, the Lord:  Are you coming to ask Me?  As I live, I will not be consulted regarding you, declares the Master, the Lord.’

הֲתִשְׁפֹּט אֹתָם הֲתִשְׁפֹּוט בֶּן־אָדָם אֶת־תֹּועֲבֹת אֲבֹותָם הֹודִיעֵם׃   20:4

Ezek. 20:4   ‘Will you judge them?  Will you judge, human?  Cause them to know the abominations of their fathers,

וְאָמַרְתָּ אֲלֵיהֶם כֹּה־אָמַר אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה בְּיֹום בָּחֳרִי בְיִשְׂרָאֵל וָאֶשָּׂא יָדִי לְזֶרַע בֵּית יַעֲקֹב וָאִוָּדַע לָהֶם   20:5 בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם וָאֶשָּׂא יָדִי לָהֶם לֵאמֹר אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם׃

Ezek. 20:5   and you will say to them, ‘Thus says the Master, the Lord:  At the time of My ‘choice’ of Israel, when I lifted My ‘hand’ to the seed of the house of Jacob, when I made Myself known to them in the land of Egypt, and lifted My ‘hand’ for them saying, I am the Lord, your God,

בַּיֹּום הַהוּא נָשָׂאתִי יָדִי לָהֶם לְהֹוצִיאָם מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם אֶל־אֶרֶץ אֲשֶׁר־תַּרְתִּי לָהֶם זָבַת חָלָב וּדְבַש   20:6ׁ    צְבִי הִיא לְכָל־הָאֲרָצֹות׃

Ezek. 20:6   at that time I raised My ‘hand’ for them to take them out of the land of Egypt to a land that I ‘selected’ for them, gushing milk and honey -- a beauty it is in all the lands –

וָאֹמַר אֲלֵהֶם אִישׁ שִׁקּוּצֵי עֵינָיו הַשְׁלִיכוּ וּבְגִלּוּלֵי מִצְרַיִם אַל־תִּטַּמָּאוּ אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם׃   20:7

Ezek. 20:7   and I said to them, ‘Cast off each the detestable things of his eyes so you will not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt; I am the Lord, your God.’

וַיַּמְרוּ־בִי וְלֹא אָבוּ לִּשְׁמֹעַ אֵלַי אִישׁ אֶת־שִׁקּוּצֵי עֵינֵיהֶם לֹא הִשְׁלִיכוּ וְאֶת־גִּלּוּלֵי מִצְרַיִם לֹא עָזָבוּ   20:8      וָאֹמַר לִשְׁפֹּךְ חֲמָתִי עֲלֵיהֶם לְכַלֹּות אַפִּי בָּהֶם בְּתֹוךְ אֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם׃

Ezek. 20:8   ‘But they were contentious with Me and were not willing to listen to Me; they did not each cast off the detestable things of their eyes, and they did not forsake the idols of Egypt.  So I said I would be pouring out My ‘rage’ upon them to exhaust My ‘anger’ with them in the midst of the land of Egypt.’

וָאַעַשׂ לְמַעַן שְׁמִי לְבִלְתִּי הֵחֵל לְעֵינֵי הַגֹּויִם אֲשֶׁר־הֵמָּה בְתֹוכָם אֲשֶׁר נֹודַעְתִּי אֲלֵיהֶם לְעֵינֵיהֶם   20:9        לְהֹוצִיאָם מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם׃

Ezek. 20:9   ‘But I acted so that My name would not be profaned before the eyes of the non-Hebrews whom they were among, so that I made Myself known to them before their eyes, bringing them forth out of the land of Egypt.’

וָאֹוצִיאֵם מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם וָאֲבִאֵם אֶל־הַמִּדְבָּר׃   20:10

Ezek. 20:10   ‘So I caused them to go forth out of the land of Egypt and brought them to the wilderness.’

וָאֶתֵּן לָהֶם אֶת־חֻקֹּותַי וְאֶת־מִשְׁפָּטַי הֹודַעְתִּי אֹותָם אֲשֶׁר יַעֲשֶׂה אֹותָם הָאָדָם וָחַי בָּהֶם׃   20:11

Ezek. 20:11   ‘Then I gave My statutes to them, and taught them My ordinances, which, if each man would do, then he shall live by them.’

וְגַם אֶת־שַׁבְּתֹותַי נָתַתִּי לָהֶם לִהְיֹות לְאֹות בֵּינִי וּבֵינֵיהֶם לָדַעַת כִּי אֲנִי יְהוָה מְקַדְּשָׁם׃   20:12

Ezek. 20:12   ‘And I also gave My Sabbaths to them to be a sign between Me and them to acknowledge that I, the Lord, am Who sanctifies them.’

The Sabbath being a sign is described in two places.  It appears in Exod. 13:13 (the Lord is speaking to Moses):

           “And you speak to the children of Israel saying, Surely you shall keep My sabbaths, for it shall be a

           sign between Me and you throughout your generations to know that I am the Lord Who sanctifies you.”

It appears again soon after, in vss.31:16 and 17 (the Lord is again speaking to Moses):

           “So the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations

           for an everlasting covenant.  It shall be a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever, for in six

           days the Lord made the heavens and the earth and on the seventh day He kept the sabbath and was

           refreshed.”

It appears that the Sabbath sign functions in two different (but similar) ways.  Did Ezekiel know this?  I wonder.

וַיַּמְרוּ־בִי בֵית־יִשְׂרָאֵל בַּמִּדְבָּר בְּחֻקֹּותַי לֹא־הָלָכוּ וְאֶת־מִשְׁפָּטַי מָאָסוּ אֲשֶׁר יַעֲשֶׂה אֹתָם הָאָדָם   20:13

וָחַי בָּהֶם וְאֶת־שַׁבְּתֹתַי חִלְּלוּ מְאֹד וָאֹמַר לִשְׁפֹּךְ חֲמָתִי עֲלֵיהֶם בַּמִּדְבָּר לְכַלֹּותָם׃

Ezek. 20:13   ‘But the house of Israel were rebellious with Me in the wilderness.  They did not walk in My statutes and rejected My ordinances, which if any man would do them, then he would live by them, and they exceedingly profaned My Sabbaths.  So I said I would be pouring out My ‘rage’ upon them in the wilderness, consuming them.’

וָאֶעֱשֶׂה לְמַעַן שְׁמִי לְבִלְתִּי הֵחֵל לְעֵינֵי הַגֹּויִם אֲשֶׁר הֹוצֵאתִים לְעֵינֵיהֶם׃   20:14

Ezek. 20:14   ‘But I acted so that My name would not be profaned before the eyes of the nations from which I brought them out before their eyes.’

וְגַם־אֲנִי נָשָׂאתִי יָדִי לָהֶם בַּמִּדְבָּר לְבִלְתִּי הָבִיא אֹותָם אֶל־הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר־נָתַתִּי זָבַת חָלָב וּדְבַשׁ   20:15    צְבִי הִיא לְכָל־הָאֲרָצֹות׃

Ezek. 20:15   ‘Then I also took up My ‘hand’ to them in the wilderness that I would not be bringing them to the land that I had given, gushing milk and honey -- a beauty it is in all the lands –

יַעַן בְּמִשְׁפָּטַי מָאָסוּ וְאֶת־חֻקֹּותַי לֹא־הָלְכוּ בָהֶם וְאֶת־שַׁבְּתֹותַי חִלֵּלוּ כִּי אַחֲרֵי גִלּוּלֵיהֶם לִבָּם הֹלֵךְ׃   20:16

Ezek. 20:16   because they rebelled against My ordinances.  And My statutes?  They did not walk in them; and they profaned My Sabbaths, for their heart went after their idols.’

וַתָּחָס עֵינִי עֲלֵיהֶם מִשַּׁחֲתָם וְלֹא־עָשִׂיתִי אֹותָם כָּלָה בַּמִּדְבָּר׃   20:17

Ezek. 20:17   ‘Still, My ‘eye’ had compassion on them; rather than annihilate them, I did not make them a complete destruction in the wilderness.’

וָאֹמַר אֶל־בְּנֵיהֶם בַּמִּדְבָּר בְּחוּקֵּי אֲבֹותֵיכֶם אַל־תֵּלֵכוּ וְאֶת־מִשְׁפְּטֵיהֶם אַל־תִּשְׁמֹרוּ וּבְגִלּוּלֵיהֶם   20:18

 אַל־תִּטַּמָּאוּ׃

Ezek. 20:18   ‘And I said to their children in the wilderness, ‘Do not walk in the statutes of your fathers, and do not observe their ordinances, and do not be defiled by their idols.’

אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם בְּחֻקֹּותַי לֵכוּ וְאֶת־מִשְׁפָּטַי שִׁמְרוּ וַעֲשׂוּ אֹותָם׃   20:19

Ezek. 20:19   ‘I am the Lord, your God.  Walk in My statutes, and observe My ordinances and do them,

וְאֶת־שַׁבְּתֹותַי קַדֵּשׁוּ וְהָיוּ לְאֹות בֵּינִי וּבֵינֵיכֶם לָדַעַת כִּי אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם׃   20:20

Ezek. 20:20   and hallow My Sabbaths that they may be a sign between Me and you to acknowledge that I am the Lord, your God.’

וַיַּמְרוּ־בִי הַבָּנִים בְּחֻקֹּותַי לֹא־הָלָכוּ וְאֶת־מִשְׁפָּטַי לֹא־שָׁמְרוּ לַעֲשֹׂות אֹותָם אֲשֶׁר יַעֲשֶׂה אֹותָם   20:21

 הָאָדָם וָחַי בָּהֶם אֶת־שַׁבְּתֹותַי חִלֵּלוּ וָאֹמַר לִשְׁפֹּךְ חֲמָתִי עֲלֵיהֶם לְכַלֹּות אַפִּי בָּם בַּמִּדְבָּר׃

Ezek. 20:21   But the children were rebellious with Me; they did not walk in My statutes, and did not watch My ordinances to do them, which if any man would do them, then he would live because of them; they profaned My Sabbaths.  So I said, ‘I should be pouring out My ‘rage’ upon them, exhausting My ‘anger’ with them in the wilderness.’

וַהֲשִׁבֹתִי אֶת־יָדִי וָאַעַשׂ לְמַעַן שְׁמִי לְבִלְתִּי הֵחֵל לְעֵינֵי הַגֹּויִם אֲשֶׁר־הֹוצֵאתִי אֹותָם לְעֵינֵיהֶם׃   20:22

Ezek. 20:22   ‘Instead I withheld My ‘hand’ and acted so that My name would not be profaned before the eyes of the nations from which I brought them forth before their eyes,

גַּם־אֲנִי נָשָׂאתִי אֶת־יָדִי לָהֶם בַּמִּדְבָּר לְהָפִיץ אֹתָם בַּגֹּויִם וּלְזָרֹות אֹותָם בָּאֲרָצֹות׃   20:23

Ezek. 20:23   though I raised My ‘hand’ toward them in the wilderness to disperse them among the nations and to scatter them throughout the lands,

יַעַן מִשְׁפָּטַי לֹא־עָשׂוּ וְחֻקֹּותַי מָאָסוּ וְאֶת־שַׁבְּתֹותַי חִלֵּלוּ וְאַחֲרֵי גִּלּוּלֵי אֲבֹותָם הָיוּ עֵינֵיהֶם׃   20:24

Ezek. 20:24   because they did not execute My ordinances and rejected My statutes and profaned My Sabbaths, and their eyes were after the idols of their fathers.’

וְגַם־אֲנִי נָתַתִּי לָהֶם חֻקִּים לֹא טֹובִים וּמִשְׁפָּטִים לֹא יִחְיוּ בָּהֶם׃   20:25

Ezek. 20:25   ‘In addition, I even give statutes not so pleasant to them, and ordinances not able to sustain life among them,

וָאֲטַמֵּא אֹותָם בְּמַתְּנֹותָם בְּהַעֲבִיר כָּל־פֶּטֶר רָחַם לְמַעַן אֲשִׁםֵּם לְמַעַן אֲשֶׁר יֵדְעוּ אֲשֶׁר אֲנִי יְהוָה׃   20:26

Ezek. 20:26   and I pronounce them unclean because of their gifts, the giving over of every firstborn of the womb, so that I could appall them, to the end that they might acknowledge Who I am:  the Lord!’”

What does v. 20:25 mean?  The Lord gives bad statutes and ordinances that do not sustain life?  What statutes and ordinances are those?  At first this seemed to be a total mystery, and I was perplexed by it.  I had translated these two verses as the entire bible translating community has.  I had translated the verbs for give and pronounce in the English past tense, gave and pronounced, as everyone else had.  After considering this for some time, I was inspired to make an adjustment in the English translation that put the verbs in the present tense (an ongoing action in the Hebrew).  And the mystery seemed solved for me. 

Sages have tried to explain this verse in a way that retains God’s divine image for Jews, but they fail to convince me.  The great Jewish commentator Rashi thought the verse meant that because of the people’s profane practices, God allowed the evil inclinations of their hearts to dictate to them.  Others thought it meant that God dispersed them among their conquerers, who imposed upon them rigorous statutes.  Neither one of these explanations deals directly with the words of the verse.  It says “I even give [or gave].”  That doesn’t sound to me like God allowed them to be given.  The Hebrew would have been very different from what it is here. 

But I now had an explanation of my own.  Heretical, it is, but for what it’s worth, I believe the verses are a prophesy, not a description of the past.  I believe the bad statutes and ordinances pertain to the later halachic alterations and additions to the Torah commandments that the Lord and Moses had prohibited (Deut. 4:2 and Deut. 13:1).  This has certainly got to be a biggie.  For this I could have been stoned in another age.

לָכֵן דַּבֵּר אֶל־בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל בֶּן־אָדָם וְאָמַרְתָּ אֲלֵיהֶם כֹּה אָמַר אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה עֹוד זֹאת גִּדְּפוּ אֹותִי   20:27          אֲבֹותֵיכֶם בְּמַעֲלָם בִּי מָעַל׃

Ezek. 20:27   “Therefore, Speak to the house of Israel, human, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Master, the Lord:  Moreover, your fathers blasphemed Me this way:  By their acting exceedingly treacherously with Me

וָאֲבִיאֵם אֶל־הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר נָשָׂאתִי אֶת־יָדִי לָתֵת אֹותָהּ לָהֶם וַיִּרְאוּ כָל־גִּבְעָה רָמָה וְכָל־עֵץ עָבֹת   20:28 וַיִּזְבְּחוּ־שָׁם אֶת־זִבְחֵיהֶם וַיִּתְּנוּ־שָׁם כַּעַס קָרְבָּנָם וַיָּשִׂימוּ שָׁם רֵיחַ נִיחֹוחֵיהֶם וַיַּסִּיכוּ שָׁם אֶת־נִסְכֵּיהֶם׃

Ezek. 20:28   when I brought them to the land that I raised My ‘hand’ to give to them, and they looked at every high hill and every leafy tree and offered their sacrifices there and consecrated their provocative offering there and made the scent of their aromatic herbs there and poured their drink offerings there.’

וָאֹמַר אֲלֵהֶם מָה הַבָּמָה אֲשֶׁר־אַתֶּם הַבָּאִים שָׁם וַיִּקָּרֵא שְׁמָהּ בָּמָה עַד הַיֹּום הַזֶּה׃   20:29

Ezek. 20:29   ‘And I said to them, ‘What is the high place where you are going?  Thus its name is called Bamah up to this day.’”

The name Bamah means high place.

לָכֵן אֱמֹר אֶל־בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל כֹּה אָמַר אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה הַבְּדֶרֶךְ אֲבֹותֵיכֶם אַתֶּם נִטְמְאִים וְאַחֲרֵי   20:30

שִׁקּוּצֵיהֶם אַתֶּם זֹנִים׃

Ezek. 20:30   “Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Master, the Lord:  You are polluting yourselves in the manner of your fathers, and you are being harlots after their abominations,

וּבִשְׂאֵת מַתְּנֹתֵיכֶם בְּהַעֲבִיר בְּנֵיכֶם בָּאֵשׁ אַתֶּם נִטְמְאִים לְכָל־גִּלּוּלֵיכֶם עַד־הַיֹּום וַאֲנִי אִדָּרֵשׁ לָכֶם   20:31 בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל חַי־אָנִי נְאֻם אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה אִם־אִדָּרֵשׁ לָכֶם׃

Ezek. 20:31   and by raising up your gifts, making your children pass through fire, you are defiling yourselves for all your idols up to this day.  So could I be consulted in your regard, house of Israel?  As I live, declares the Master, the Lord, I will not be consulted in your regard.’

וְהָעֹלָה עַל־רוּחֲכֶם הָיֹו לֹא תִהְיֶה אֲשֶׁר אַתֶּם אֹמְרִים נִהְיֶה כַגֹּויִם כְּמִשְׁפְּחֹות הָאֲרָצֹות לְשָׁרֵת   20:32      עֵץ וָאָבֶן׃

Ezek. 20:32   ‘And what is coming up on your mind shall surely not be what you are saying:  ‘We shall be as the nations, like the families of countries, serving wood and stone.’

The quote is not what they would be saying, but what they are thinking.

חַי־אָנִי נְאֻם אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה אִם־לֹא בְּיָד חֲזָקָה וּבִזְרֹועַ נְטוּיָה וּבְחֵמָה שְׁפוּכָה אֶמְלֹוךְ עֲלֵיכֶם׃   20:33

Ezek. 20:33   ‘As I live, declares the Master, the Lord, surely with a mighty ‘hand’ and with an outstretched ‘arm’ and with spilled ‘rage’ I shall be King over you.’

וְהֹוצֵאתִי אֶתְכֶם מִן־הָעַמִּים וְקִבַּצְתִּי אֶתְכֶם מִן־הָאֲרָצֹות אֲשֶׁר נְפֹוצֹתֶם בָּם בְּיָד חֲזָקָה וּבִזְרֹועַ   20:34 נְטוּיָה וּבְחֵמָה שְׁפוּכָה׃

Ezek. 20:34   ‘And, I will bring you out from the peoples and gather you from the lands throughout which you are scattered, with a mighty ‘hand’ and with an outstretched ‘arm’ and with spilled ‘rage.’

וְהֵבֵאתִי אֶתְכֶם אֶל־מִדְבַּר הָעַמִּים וְנִשְׁפַּטְתִּי אִתְּכֶם שָׁם פָּנִים אֶל־פָּנִים׃   20:35

Ezek. 20:35   ‘Then I will bring you to the wilderness of peoples, and plead with you there face to face.’

Face to face?  Like he did with Moses?  What a glorious time that could be!

כַּאֲשֶׁר נִשְׁפַּטְתִּי אֶת־אֲבֹותֵיכֶם בְּמִדְבַּר אֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם כֵּן אִשָּׁפֵט אִתְּכֶם נְאֻם אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה׃   20:36

Ezek. 20:36   ‘As I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, declares the Master, the Lord.’

וְהַעֲבַרְתִּי אֶתְכֶם תַּחַת הַשָּׁבֶט וְהֵבֵאתִי אֶתְכֶם בְּמָסֹרֶת הַבְּרִית׃   20:37

Ezek. 20:37   ‘But I will make you pass under the rod and bring you into the bond of covenant.’

Pass under the rod?  This phrase is reminiscent of Levi. 27:32, the only other place in the bible where it is found, where every tenth animal is set aside for the Lord.  Does this mean that one of ten will be found righteous enough to  come into the bond of covenant?  That’s a pretty small remnant.

וּבָרֹותִי םִכֶּם הַמֹּרְדִים וְהַפֹּושְׁעִים בִּי מֵאֶרֶץ מְגוּרֵיהֶם אֹוצִיא אֹותָם וְאֶל־אַדְמַת יִשְׂרָאֵל לֹא יָבֹוא   20:38 וִידַעְתֶּם כִּי־אֲנִי יְהוָה׃

Ezek. 20:38   ‘So I will purge the rebels from you and those who transgress against Me; from the land of their sojournings I will bring them forth, but not one will enter into the land of Israel; then you shall know that I am the Lord.’

וְאַתֶּם בֵּית־יִשְׂרָאֵל כֹּה־אָמַר אֲדֹנָי יְהֹוִה אִישׁ גִּלּוּלָיו לְכוּ עֲבֹדוּ וְאַחַר אִם־אֵינְכֶם שֹׁמְעִים אֵלָי   20:39      וְאֶת־שֵׁם קָדְשִׁי לֹא תְחַלְּלוּ־עֹוד בְּמַתְּנֹותֵיכֶם וּבְגִלּוּלֵיכֶם׃

Ezek. 20:39   ‘And you, house of Israel?  Thus says the Master, the Lord:  Each of you go serve his idols, but afterwards, if none of you will be listening to Me, then you shall not defile the reputation of My holiness again with your gifts or with your idols.’

כִּי בְהַר־קָדְשִׁי בְּהַר מְרֹום יִשְׂרָאֵל נְאֻם אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה שָׁם יַעַבְדֻנִי כָּל־בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל כֻּלֹּה בָּאָרֶץ שָׁם   20:40 אֶרְצֵם וְשָׁם אֶדְרֹושׁ אֶת־תְּרוּמֹתֵיכֶם וְאֶת־רֵאשִׁית מַשְׂאֹותֵיכֶם בְּכָל־קָדְשֵׁיכֶם׃

Ezek. 20:40   ‘For on the mount of My holiness, on the mountain of the height of Israel, declares the Master, the Lord, there the entire house of Israel shall serve Me; there I shall accept them, and there I shall require your heave offerings and the first out of your portions with all your holy things.’

בְּרֵיחַ נִיחֹחַ אֶרְצֶה אֶתְכֶם בְּהֹוצִיאִי אֶתְכֶם מִן־הָעַמִּים וְקִבַּצְתִּי אֶתְכֶם מִן־הָאֲרָצֹות אֲשֶׁר נְפֹצֹתֶם   20:41 בָּם וְנִקְדַּשְׁתִּי בָכֶם לְעֵינֵי הַגֹּויִם׃

Ezek. 20:41   ‘With a sweet scent I will accept you on My bringing you out from the peoples, and I will gather you from the lands throughout which you are scattered, and I will be sanctified by you before the eyes of the nations.’

וִידַעְתֶּם כִּי־אֲנִי יְהוָה בַּהֲבִיאִי אֶתְכֶם אֶל־אַדְמַת יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶל־הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר נָשָׂאתִי אֶת־יָדִי לָתֵת   20:42 אֹותָהּ לַאֲבֹותֵיכֶם׃

Ezek. 20:42   ‘And you shall acknowledge that I am the Lord by My bringing you to the soil of Israel, to the land that I raised My hand to give to your fathers.’

וּזְכַרְתֶּם־שָׁם אֶת־דַּרְכֵיכֶם וְאֵת כָּל־עֲלִילֹותֵיכֶם אֲשֶׁר נִטְמֵאתֶם בָּם וּנְקֹטֹתֶם בִּפְנֵיכֶם   20:43                        בְּכָל־רָעֹותֵיכֶם אֲשֶׁר עֲשִׂיתֶם׃

Ezek. 20:43   ‘And there you shall remember your ways and all your evil deeds by which you defiled yourselves, and you shall feel loathing toward your own faces because of all your evil deeds that you committed.’

וִידַעְתֶּם כִּי־אֲנִי יְהוָה בַּעֲשֹׂותִי אִתְּכֶם לְמַעַן שְׁמִי לֹא כְדַרְכֵיכֶם הָרָעִים וְכַעֲלִילֹותֵיכֶם הַנִּשְׁחָתֹות   20:44 בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל נְאֻם אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה׃

Ezek. 20:44   ‘Then you shall know that I am the Lord by My acting with you for the sake of My name, not according to your evil ways, or according to your corrupt deeds, house of Israel, declares the Master, the Lord.’”

Many bibles, in particular those from Christian sources, include the first five verses of Chapter 21 here as part of this chapter. 

Aside from this, notice that the Lord says we will be (and are) saved for His name’s sake, not for our righteousness.  Thus, as I’ve said elsewhere, we Jews are saved by grace.  A critical distinction between Jews and Christians.

 

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