Ezekiel 20:1-2
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. And the word of the LORD came to me:
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse notes that "certain of the elders" came, but what's striking is that they sat before Ezekiel. This posture wasn't just about waiting; it implied a seeking of counsel and a deference to the prophet as God's mouthpiece, even if their hearts weren't fully aligned with His purposes.
The elders of Israel, likely exiles like Ezekiel himself, come to the prophet seeking divine counsel. This encounter happens about four years before Jerusalem's fall, and the elders probably hoped for a message of imminent deliverance from their suffering. However, their unspoken questions reveal a deeper issue, as God prepares to address not just their present crisis but a long history of rebellion.
Why pin down the exact day, month, and year? This verse opens with a specific date that grounds us in a critical moment.
The precision of "in the seventh year, in the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month" isn't just for historical record-keeping. It anchors the prophecy in a tangible time, highlighting the gravity of the situation.
This date places Ezekiel and the elders in the midst of the Babylonian exile. Jerusalem had already fallen (or was about to, depending on the exact year interpretation), and the exiles faced immense uncertainty and suffering. This specific date, roughly 590 B.C., was a period of deep national crisis. The exactness of the date emphasizes that this wasn't a vague, timeless message, but a direct word from God to His people in a specific, desperate hour.
These elders came to 'inquire of the LORD.' But was their seeking genuine, or something else entirely?
The elders' action is stated as coming "to inquire of the LORD." This outwardly appears to be a sincere desire for divine guidance in their dire circumstances. They sought the prophet Ezekiel as their intermediary to hear God's voice.
However, the context provided by commentaries suggests their inquiry might have been more complex. They likely hoped for a message of reassurance or imminent deliverance, perhaps even seeking validation for a predetermined course of action, like rebellion against Babylon. The Lord often sees through such superficial seeking. He knows the heart's true motives, and His response in the following verses reveals that while they came to Him, they weren't truly prepared for His unvarnished truth.
Ezekiel is simply 'sitting before' these elders. What does this posture reveal about God's presence among His people?
The phrase "and sat before me" signifies more than just a physical position. It implies a readiness to listen and receive, a posture of engagement. For the elders, Ezekiel was the tangible presence of God among them in their exile.
God chose to communicate His weighty messages not through distant pronouncements, but through a prophet present them, sharing their exilic reality. Ezekiel's role was to be God's voice in their midst, making the divine word accessible, even in their suffering. This highlights God's deep desire to be known and to communicate with His people, even when they are far from their homeland and their place of worship.
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 verse finds Ezekiel in exile, two years before Jerusalem's final destruction. The elders approach him for counsel, likely hoping for news of imminent deliverance, but God uses their inquiry to reveal the deep, historical roots of their rebellion and the inevitable consequences.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, deports a number of prominent Jews, including Daniel, to Babylon. This marks the beginning of the Babylonian exile.
597 BC
Second Deportation (Jehoiachin's Exile)
Nebuchadnezzar deports King Jehoiachin and thousands more Judeans to Babylon. The prophet Ezekiel is among this group, and his ministry largely takes place during this exile.
August 590 BC— this verse
Elders Seek Ezekiel's Counsel
Certain elders among the exiles in Babylon approach Ezekiel, seeking a message from the Lord regarding their situation. This is the specific event that prompts Ezekiel's prophecy in chapter 20.
c. 588 BC
Siege of Jerusalem Begins
Nebuchadnezzar lays siege to Jerusalem, the capital of Judah. This siege lasts for over a year and a half.
This passage describes a similar scene where elders come to Ezekiel, highlighting a recurring pattern of seeking divine guidance amidst crisis, though in this instance, God's response indicates their seeking might be insincere.
Jeremiah 23:16-17The elders likely hoped for a message of speedy deliverance, mirroring the false reassurance given by prophets in Jeremiah, which God condemns as mere fantasy and not from His mouth.
2 Kings 22:11-13When King Josiah sought the Lord about the discovered Law, the elders brought the scroll to him, showing a genuine desire for understanding and repentance, contrasting with the potentially superficial seeking of Ezekiel's elders.
Romans 10:2The elders claim to 'inquire of the LORD,' but the context of Ezekiel 20 suggests their zeal might not have been according to true knowledge, as Paul speaks of the Israelites' zeal for God being not in accordance with understanding.
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 verse notes that "certain of the elders" came, but what's striking is that they sat before Ezekiel. This posture wasn't just about waiting; it implied a seeking of counsel and a deference to the prophet as God's mouthpiece, even if their hearts weren't fully aligned with His purposes.
The elders of Israel, likely exiles like Ezekiel himself, come to the prophet seeking divine counsel. This encounter happens about four years before Jerusalem's fall, and the elders probably hoped for a message of imminent deliverance from their suffering. However, their unspoken questions reveal a deeper issue, as God prepares to address not just their present crisis but a long history of rebellion.
The elders of Israel, likely exiles like Ezekiel himself, come to the prophet seeking divine counsel. This encounter happens about four years before Jerusalem's fall, and the elders probably hoped for a message of imminent deliverance from their suffering. However, their unspoken questions reveal a deeper issue, as God prepares to address not just their present crisis but a long history of rebellion.
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586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Temple Destruction
The Babylonians breach Jerusalem's walls, destroy the city, and burn the Temple. This event represents the catastrophic end of the kingdom of Judah.
"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. And the word of the LORD came to me:" — The verse notes that "certain of the elders" came, but what's striking is that they sat before Ezekiel. This posture wasn't just about waiting; it implied a seeking of counsel and a deference to th…
