In the seventh year, in the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month, certain of the elders of Israel came to inquire of the LORD, and sat before me.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Though these elders came to "inquire of the LORD," the text subtly hints they may have already decided on rebellion, seeking validation rather than guidance. Their presence, "sitting before me," suggests an expectation of pronouncements that would align with their desires, rather than an open heart for God's truth.
In the seventh year, in the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month, certain of the elders of Israel came to inquire of the LORD, and sat before me.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Certain elders, likely captives in Babylon, approach Ezekiel seeking guidance about their nation's future and a potential end to their suffering. This happens four years before Jerusalem falls and while they are exiled, making their inquiry a critical moment for assessing God's perspective on their crisis. Ezekiel, poised to deliver a lengthy message, is about to confront their unspoken questions, likely hoping for news of imminent deliverance.
Why are the specific date and details so important here? This wasn't just any random Tuesday.
The opening of Ezekiel chapter 20 is marked by a very specific date: "in the seventh year, in the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month." This precision isn't for show; it anchors the prophecy in a real moment of national crisis.
The Exile Context
These elders came to 'inquire of the LORD.' But what does that really mean, especially when facing national disaster?
The elders approached Ezekiel with a specific intention: to "inquire of the LORD." This phrase is crucial. It wasn't just about getting information; it was about seeking God's perspective and guidance during a devastating time.
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The Nature of Their Inquiry
Why does the text specifically mention the elders 'sat before me'? What does this reveal about Ezekiel's role?
The simple statement that the elders "sat before me" (Ezekiel) is significant. It positions Ezekiel as the one through whom God will speak, and it highlights the posture of those seeking.
The Prophet's Place
Understand the original words
zaqen · Hebrew Noun
Title of honor or office given to the leaders of the tribes, clans, or families in Israel; they were responsible for the community's governance, judicial matters, and religious adherence.
YHWH · Hebrew Noun
A covenantal title for the God of Israel, YHWH, highlighting His self-existence, eternal nature, and faithfulness to His people; it is the name by which He revealed Himself to Moses.
This specific date, the tenth day of the fifth month in the seventh year of exile, is significant because it marks the anniversary of the destruction of the First Temple in Jerusalem decades earlier, adding a layer of sorrow and remembrance to the elders' visit.
605 BC
First Deportation of Jerusalem
Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, conquers Judah and takes many prominent citizens, including Daniel, captive to Babylon. This event marks the beginning of the Babylonian exile for many Judeans.
597 BC— this verse
Second Deportation (Jehoiachin's Exile)
Nebuchadnezzar deports King Jehoiachin and more of Jerusalem's elite, including the prophet Ezekiel, to Babylon. This event initiates the official calendar for Ezekiel's prophecies.
c. 590 BC
Ezekiel's Commission
The prophet Ezekiel receives his divine commission to speak God's word to the exiles in Babylon. This is about two years before the elders visit him in chapter 20.
August 590 BC
Elders Inquire of Ezekiel
Certain elders of the Judean exiles in Babylon approach Ezekiel, seeking guidance from the LORD. The exact nature of their inquiry is unstated, but it likely concerned their present suffering and future hope.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, ending the Davidic monarchy and intensifying the exile. This devastating event casts a long shadow over Ezekiel's prophecies.
This passage describes a similar situation where elders came to inquire of Ezekiel, highlighting a recurring pattern of the people seeking divine counsel, often with ulterior motives or a predetermined agenda.
Jeremiah 23:16-22This passage powerfully critiques false prophets who speak visions from their own minds and give hopeful but deceptive messages, mirroring the potential deceit behind the elders' inquiry in Ezekiel 20:1.
Ezekiel 8:1This verse establishes a precedent for elders coming to Ezekiel with questions, indicating a pattern of seeking God's word during their exile and the prophet's role as an intermediary, even when their hearts were far from Him.
2 Kings 22:11-13This shows a genuine seeking of the Lord in a time of crisis, contrasting with the more ambiguous and potentially insincere motives of the elders in Ezekiel 20:1, illustrating different ways people approach God in difficult times.
ellicottEzekiel 20:1: "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."
(1) Came to enquire. —It does not appear that the elders actually proposed their enquiry. It doubtless had relation not to personal affairs, but to the welfare of the nation, and in this prophecy the Lord meets their unspoken question.
cambridgeEzekiel 20:1: "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."
1–4 . Introductory. Certain elders came to the prophet to enquire of the Lord, in the seventh year of the captivity of Jehoiachin and tenth day of the fifth month—Aug. 590 b.c., four years before Jerusalem fell.
Though these elders came to "inquire of the LORD," the text subtly hints they may have already decided on rebellion, seeking validation rather than guidance. Their presence, "sitting before me," suggests an expectation of pronouncements that would align with their desires, rather than an open heart for God's truth.
Certain elders, likely captives in Babylon, approach Ezekiel seeking guidance about their nation's future and a potential end to their suffering. This happens four years before Jerusalem falls and while they are exiled, making their inquiry a critical moment for assessing God's perspective on their crisis. Ezekiel, poised to deliver a lengthy message, is about to confront their unspoken questions, likely hoping for news of imminent deliverance.
Certain elders, likely captives in Babylon, approach Ezekiel seeking guidance about their nation's future and a potential end to their suffering. This happens four years before Jerusalem falls and while they are exiled, making their inquiry a critical moment for assessing God's perspective on their crisis. Ezekiel, poised to deliver a lengthy message, is about to confront their unspoken questions, likely hoping for news of imminent deliverance.
"In the seventh year, in the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month, certain of the elders of Israel came to inquire of the LORD, and sat before me." — Though these elders came to "inquire of the LORD," the text subtly hints they may have already decided on rebellion, seeking validation rather than guidance. Their presence, "sitting before me," sugg…
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Last reviewed October 2026