Unlike chapters 16 and 23, chapter 20 speaks without allegory about the people's past and future. The occasion for this essay is an inquiry to Ezkiel by some of the elders for an oracular response. Instead, the Lord tells the prophet to indict them, to make known to them the abominations of their ancestors (v.5). To indict them, he tells the history of the people in four stages: Egypt (vv.5-10), the first wilderness generation (vv. 11-17), the second wilderness generation (vv. 18-26), and in the land (vv. 27-29). Verses 30-44 are the application and consequences: God refuses again to respond to an inquiry (vv. 3-31) and then reveals a new exodus (vv32-44): "I will lead you to the desert of the peoples, where I will enter into judgment with you face to face: (v.35), and the people will finally come into the land and serve the Lord on the holy mountain (v. 40). The prophet retells the history in such a way as to take away all cause for pride. The people's task is to allow the Lord in the future to redo the Exodus so that the result will be a faithful people.
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