Ezekiel 20:1
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)
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The elders "sat before me," a posture of waiting and seeking, but the text subtly reveals they likely came with preconceived notions of what they wanted to hear, not necessarily what God wanted to say. This wasn't just a neutral consultation; it was a prelude to God confronting their deep-seated patterns of rebellion with unvarnished truth.
Certain elders, exiles in Babylon, have come to Ezekiel seeking insight from the Lord about their dire situation. This encounter happens during a time of deep national crisis, some years before Jerusalem's final destruction, and it marks the beginning of a long prophecy where God addresses their ancestors' persistent rebellion, revealing the true reasons for their present suffering.
Why does the Bible give such precise dates for prophetic messages? It’s more than just a historical marker; it anchors God's Word in real-time struggle.
The opening of Ezekiel 20 immediately grounds us in a specific moment: 'the seventh year, in the fifth month, on the tenth day.' This isn't just random journaling.
Historical Context
This date pinpoints a critical time during the Babylonian exile, specifically 590 BC. Jerusalem was under siege, and hope was likely dwindling for many. The elders, representing the community, came to Ezekiel seeking an answer from the Lord.
More Than Just Time
God's deliberate use of dates emphasizes His sovereign control over history. It shows that His prophetic word isn't abstract but is delivered in direct response to His people's circumstances, even in their deepest despair. It speaks to the reliability of God's timing and His engagement with His people's real-life crises.
Who were these 'elders,' and what does it mean that they came to 'inquire of the LORD'?
The text tells us that 'certain of the elders of Israel came to inquire of the LORD.' This detail is crucial for understanding the dynamic.
Who Were They?
These were likely respected leaders among the exiled community in Babylon. While they represented the people, their motives weren't always pure. Some commentators suggest they might have come with preconceived notions or hopes, perhaps expecting a message of imminent deliverance that aligned with their desires rather than God's truth.
The Prophet's Role
They came to Ezekiel, who was functioning as God's mouthpiece. Their act of 'inquiring' was an attempt to discern God's will in their dire situation. However, as the prophecy unfolds, it becomes clear that God intended to confront them not with easy answers, but with the deep-seated reasons for their exile—their own ancestors' repeated disobedience.
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.
The elders' visit to Ezekiel in 590 BC, four years before Jerusalem's final fall, highlights the desperate hope and potential deception of the exiles. They sought answers from God through Ezekiel, perhaps expecting reassurance, but instead received a profound reckoning with their ancestors' continuous rebellion and God's unwavering judgment.
597 BC
First Deportation of Jerusalem
Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, deports King Jehoiachin and many citizens of Jerusalem to Babylon, including the prophet Ezekiel.
c. 592 BC
Ezekiel's Call to Prophethood
Ezekiel receives his prophetic call by the Chebar River in Babylon, beginning his ministry to the exiles.
August 590 BC— this verse
Elders Consult Ezekiel
Elders of the Jewish exiles in Babylon approach Ezekiel, seeking guidance from the LORD regarding their situation.
c. 589 BC
Siege of Jerusalem Begins
Nebuchadnezzar's armies lay siege to Jerusalem, marking the beginning of the final destruction of the city.
This passage warns against false prophets who offer deceptive messages of peace and security, mirroring the likely situation of the elders coming to Ezekiel hoping for favorable news.
Ezekiel 14:1-3This earlier passage describes a similar scenario where elders come to Ezekiel to inquire of the Lord, highlighting a recurring pattern of seeking divine counsel amidst national crisis.
2 Kings 22:11-13When King Josiah heard the Law, he tore his clothes and sought the Lord, showing a genuine seeking of God's will in a time of crisis, contrasting with the potentially insincere inquiry of Ezekiel's elders.
Isaiah 30:1-2This prophetic passage rebukes the people for seeking counsel from Egypt and calling it God's help, showing a pattern of flawed alliances and misdirected reliance that the elders might have been exhibiting.
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.
The elders "sat before me," a posture of waiting and seeking, but the text subtly reveals they likely came with preconceived notions of what they wanted to hear, not necessarily what God wanted to say. This wasn't just a neutral consultation; it was a prelude to God confronting their deep-seated patterns of rebellion with unvarnished truth.
Certain elders, exiles in Babylon, have come to Ezekiel seeking insight from the Lord about their dire situation. This encounter happens during a time of deep national crisis, some years before Jerusalem's final destruction, and it marks the beginning of a long prophecy where God addresses their ancestors' persistent rebellion, revealing the true reasons for their present suffering.
Certain elders, exiles in Babylon, have come to Ezekiel seeking insight from the Lord about their dire situation. This encounter happens during a time of deep national crisis, some years before Jerusalem's final destruction, and it marks the beginning of a long prophecy where God addresses their ancestors' persistent rebellion, revealing the true reasons for their present suffering.
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587/586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem
Jerusalem is captured, the Temple is destroyed, and the remaining population is exiled to Babylon.
"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." — The elders "sat before me," a posture of waiting and seeking, but the text subtly reveals they likely came with preconceived notions of what they wanted to hear, not necessarily what God wanted to…
