Ezekiel 20:1

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

¶ 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 enquire of the LORD, and sat before me.

Complete Jewish Bible:

On the tenth day of the fifth month of the seventh year, some of Isra'el's leaders came to consult ADONAI and sat with me;

Berean Standard Bible:

In the seventh year, on the tenth day of the fifth month, some of the elders of Israel came to inquire of the LORD, and they sat down before me.

American Standard Version:

And it came to pass in the seventh year, in the fifthmonth, the tenthdayof the month, that certain of the elders of Israel came to inquire of Jehovah, and sat before me.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And it came to pass in the seventh^{H7637} year^{H8141}, in the fifth^{H2549} month, the tenth^{H6218} day of the month^{H2320}, that certain^{H582} of the elders^{H2205} of Israel^{H3478} came^{H935} to enquire^{H1875} of the LORD^{H3068}, and sat^{H3427} before^{H6440} me.

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Commentary for Ezekiel 20:1

Ezekiel 20:1 sets the scene for a significant moment in the prophetic career of Ezekiel. The verse begins with a precise historical marker, indicating the date as the seventh year, the fifth month, and the tenth day of the month, which would correspond to the year 591 BCE, approximately five years after the first siege of Jerusalem by the Babylonians. This temporal specificity not only anchors the prophecy in time but also underscores the urgency and gravity of the situation.

The "seventh year" likely refers to the seventh year of King Jehoiachin's captivity in Babylon, which is a period of great turmoil and transition for the Israelites. The elders of Israel coming to "enquire of the Lord" suggests a moment of spiritual seeking or crisis, as these leaders are looking for divine guidance during a period of exile and national distress. Their action reflects a recognition of God's authority and a hope for direction or reassurance amidst chaos.

The phrase "and sat before me" indicates that Ezekiel, who is both a priest and a prophet, is receiving a vision or a prophetic experience in which the elders are present. This sets the stage for a divine message that Ezekiel is to convey to these leaders and, by extension, to the people of Israel. The themes of judgment, redemption, and the necessity of repentance are central to the book of Ezekiel and are likely to be addressed in the ensuing prophecy that follows this introduction.

In summary, Ezekiel 20:1 introduces a scene where, against the backdrop of the Babylonian exile, the elders of Israel seek divine counsel, and Ezekiel is positioned as the intermediary for God's communication. This verse captures a moment of critical importance for the Israelites, as they grapple with their national identity, spiritual fate, and future hope while in a foreign land under divine judgment.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H7637
   There are 94 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שְׁבִיעִי
   Transliteration: shᵉbîyʻîy
   Pronunciation: sheb-ee-ee'
   Description: or שְׁבִעִי; ordinal from שִׁבְעִים; seventh; seventh (time).
   
2. Strong's Number: H8141
   There are 647 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׁנֶה
   Transliteration: shâneh
   Pronunciation: shaw-neh'
   Description: (in plural or (feminine) שָׁנָה; from שָׁנָה; a year (as a revolution of time); [phrase] whole age, [idiom] long, [phrase] old, year([idiom] -ly).
   
3. Strong's Number: H2549
   There are 44 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: חֲמִישִׁי
   Transliteration: chămîyshîy
   Pronunciation: kham-ee-shee'
   Description: or חֲמִשִּׁי; ordinal from חָמֵשׁ; fifth; also a fifth; fifth (part).
   
4. Strong's Number: H6218
   There are 16 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עָשׂוֹר
   Transliteration: ʻâsôwr
   Pronunciation: aw-sore'
   Description: or עָשֹׂר; from עֶשֶׂר; ten; by abbreviated form ten strings, and so a decachord; (instrument of) ten (strings, -th).
   
5. Strong's Number: H2320
   There are 224 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: חֹדֶשׁ
   Transliteration: chôdesh
   Pronunciation: kho'-desh
   Description: from חָדַשׁ; the new moon; by implication, a month; month(-ly), new moon.
   
6. Strong's Number: H582
   There are 648 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֱנוֹשׁ
   Transliteration: ʼĕnôwsh
   Pronunciation: en-oshe'
   Description: from אָנַשׁ; properly, a mortal (and thus differing from the more dignified אָדָם); hence,; a man in general (singly or collectively); another, [idiom] (blood-) thirsty, certain, chap(-man); divers, fellow, [idiom] in the flower of their age, husband, (certain, mortal) man, people, person, servant, some ([idiom] of them), [phrase] stranger, those, [phrase] their trade. It is often unexpressed in the English versions, especially when used in apposition with another word. Compare אִישׁ.
   
7. Strong's Number: H2205
   There are 171 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: זָקֵן
   Transliteration: zâqên
   Pronunciation: zaw-kane'
   Description: from זָקֵן; old; aged, ancient (man), elder(-est), old (man, men and...women), senator.
   
8. Strong's Number: H3478
   There are 2229 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יִשְׂרָאֵל
   Transliteration: Yisrâʼêl
   Pronunciation: yis-raw-ale'
   Description: from שָׂרָה and אֵל; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity; Israel.
   
9. Strong's Number: H935
   There are 2307 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בּוֹא
   Transliteration: bôwʼ
   Pronunciation: bo
   Description: a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of applications); abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat, [phrase] employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, [phrase] follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, [phrase] have, [idiom] indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, [idiom] (well) stricken (in age), [idiom] surely, take (in), way.
   
10. Strong's Number: H1875
    There are 152 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: דָּרַשׁ
    Transliteration: dârash
    Pronunciation: daw-rash'
    Description: a primitive root; properly, to tread or frequent; usually to follow (for pursuit or search); by implication, to seek or ask; specifically to worship; ask, [idiom] at all, care for, [idiom] diligently, inquire, make inquisition, (necro-) mancer, question, require, search, seek (for, out), [idiom] surely.
    
11. Strong's Number: H3068
    There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יְהֹוָה
    Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
    Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
    Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה.
    
12. Strong's Number: H3427
    There are 980 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יָשַׁב
    Transliteration: yâshab
    Pronunciation: yaw-shab'
    Description: a primitive root; properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry; (make to) abide(-ing), continue, (cause to, make to) dwell(-ing), ease self, endure, establish, [idiom] fail, habitation, haunt, (make to) inhabit(-ant), make to keep (house), lurking, [idiom] marry(-ing), (bring again to) place, remain, return, seat, set(-tle), (down-) sit(-down, still, -ting down, -ting (place) -uate), take, tarry.
    
13. Strong's Number: H6440
    There are 1890 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: פָּנִים
    Transliteration: pânîym
    Pronunciation: paw-neem'
    Description: plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun פָּנֶה; from פָּנָה); the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.); [phrase] accept, a-(be-) fore(-time), against, anger, [idiom] as (long as), at, [phrase] battle, [phrase] because (of), [phrase] beseech, countenance, edge, [phrase] employ, endure, [phrase] enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, [idiom] him(-self), [phrase] honourable, [phrase] impudent, [phrase] in, it, look(-eth) (-s), [idiom] me, [phrase] meet, [idiom] more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), [idiom] on, open, [phrase] out of, over against, the partial, person, [phrase] please, presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, [phrase] regard, right forth, [phrase] serve, [idiom] shewbread, sight, state, straight, [phrase] street, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them(-selves), through ([phrase] -out), till, time(-s) past, (un-) to(-ward), [phrase] upon, upside ([phrase] down), with(-in, [phrase] -stand), [idiom] ye, [idiom] you.