Ezekiel 20:23

“I lifted up mine hand also to them in the wilderness, &c.] Swore unto them, as in (<262005>Ezekiel 20:5,6,15); that I would scatter them among the Heathen, and disperse them through the countries; after they came to be settled in the land of Canaan, they sinning against the Lord; which was fulfilled in the times of the Babylonish captivity, and in their destruction by the Romans; but was threatened and foretold while they were in the wilderness, (<032633>Leviticus 26:33) (<053226>Deuteronomy 32:26); with this compare (<19A626>Psalm 106:26-30).”

“It was to that generation the threat of dispersion was proclaimed (Deu 28:64; compare Eze 29:4).”

“The probation in the wilderness. The promise was forfeited by those to whom it was first conditionally made, but was renewed to their children. Ezekiel 20:11 The “statutes” were given on Mount Sinai, and repeated by Moses before his death (Exodus 20:1 ff; Deuteronomy 4:8). In them - Or, through them: and in Ezekiel 20:13. Ezekiel 20:12 See Exodus 31:13. The Sabbath was a sign of a special people, commemorative of the work of creation, and hallowed to the honor of Yahweh, the covenant-God. As man honored God by keeping the Sabbath holy, so by the Sabbath, God “sanctified” Israel and marked them as a holy people. Therefore to profane the Sabbath was to abjure their Divine Governor. Ezekiel…”

“I lifted - I sware. Ezekiel 20:25”

“20:23 Because of Israel’s history of refusing to keep the Lord’s decrees or obey his regulations, God determined to scatter them among all the nations.”

“lifted: Eze 20:15; Deu 32:40; Rev 10:5, Rev 10:6 that I: The predictions of the dispersion of Israel, delivered by Moses just before his death, are evidently here referred to: they received a partial accomplishment at the Babylonian captivity, but are more exactly fulfilling at this day. Lev 26:33; Deu 28:64-68, Deu 32:26, Deu 32:27; Psa 106:27; Jer 15:4 Ezekiel 20:24”