Ezekiel 20:5

“And say unto them, thus saith the Lord God, &c.] Here begins the account of their fathers; of God’s unmerited goodness to them, and of their sins and transgressions against him, and how it fared with them: in the day when I chose Israel; to be his peculiar people, above all people on the face of the earth; when he declared his choice of them, and made it appear that he had chosen them, and distinguished them, by special blessings and favours bestowed on them: and lifted up mine hand to the seed of the house of Jacob; the posterity of Jacob or Israel, to whom the Lord swore that he would do such and such things for them; of which the lifting up the hand was a token; it is a gesture used in…”

“The thrice lifting up of God's hand (the sign of His oath, Rev 10:5-6; Exo 6:8, Margin; Num 14:30; to which passages the form of words here alludes) implies the solemn earnestness of God's purpose of grace to them. made myself known unto them--proving Myself faithful and true by the actual fulfilment of My promises (Exo 4:31; Exo 6:3); revealing Myself as "Jehovah," that is, not that the name was unknown before, but that then first the force of that name was manifested in the promises of God then being realized in performances.”

“The children of Israel in Egypt were warned to abstain from the idolatry of the pagan. This purpose they lost sight of, yet God spared them and brought them into another state of probation. Ezekiel 20:5 Lifted up mine hand - i. e., sware, because the hand was lifted up in adjuration. Ezekiel 20:8 Idols of Egypt - These incidental notices show the children of Israel in Egypt to have been addicted to idolatry. Compare Joshua 24:14. Ezekiel 20:9 I wrought for my name’s sake - Lest it should appear to the Egyptians that Yahweh was a God who would, but could not, save. return to 'Top of Page'”

“When I chose - When I shewed that I had chosen them. The history of the rebellions of the children of Israel, begins as early, as their beginning. So does the history of man's apostasy from his Maker. No sooner have we read the story of his creation, but we meet with that of his rebellion. So we see here, it was with Israel; a people designed to represent the body of mankind, both in their dealings with God, and in God's dealing with them. Lifted up my hand - Or stretched out and made bare my arm; that is, magnified my power for their deliverance. When I lifted up mine hand - Shewed my power in performing my oath, and assuring them of doing what was farther promised. Ezekiel 20:6”

“In the: Exo 6:6, Exo 6:7, Exo 19:4-6; Deu 4:37, Deu 7:6, Deu 14:2; Psa 33:12; Isa 41:8, Isa 41:9, Isa 43:10; Isa 44:1, Isa 44:2; Jer 33:24; Mar 13:20 lifted up mine hand: or, sware (and so Eze 20:6, etc. Exo 6:8, Exo 6:9). Eze 20:15, Eze 20:23, Eze 47:14; Gen 14:22; Deu 32:40; Rev 10:5 and made: Eze 35:11; Exo 3:8, Exo 4:31; Deu 4:34, Deu 11:2-7; Psa 103:7 I am: Exo 3:6, Exo 3:16, Exo 20:2, Exo 20:3 Ezekiel 20:6”

“Election of Israel in Egypt. Its resistance to the commandments of God. - Eze 20:5. And say to them, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah, In the day that I chose Israel, and lifted my hand to the seed of Jacob, and made myself known to them in the land of Egypt, and lifted my hand to them, saying, I am Jehovah, your God: Eze 20:6. In that day I lifted my hand to them, to bring them out of the land of Egypt into the land which I sought out for them, which floweth with milk and honey - it is an ornament of all lands: Eze 20:7. And said to them, Cast away every man the abominations of his eyes, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am Jehovah, your God. Eze 20:8. But they were…”