Ezekiel 20:1Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

7), while Ahab asked whether he would succeed in his venture to Ramoth-Gilead (3 Sam. 22). Prophetic declarations concerning Sennacherib are also noted in Isaiah (Isaiah 37) and the book of Kings (4 Kings 19). It is not unexpected in the Old Testament that prophets proclaim what will happen to various individuals, as demonstrated when Agabus foretold events concerning Paul (Acts 21). Deuteronomy mentions, "The nations whom the Lord will destroy from before you will listen to soothsayers and diviners; but as for you, the Lord your God has not allowed you to do so” (Deuteronomy 18:14). This reflects the tendency of the Gentiles to consult Chaldeans, diviners, and other practitioners of the occult, who lead them astray with their falsehoods. Thus, the elders of Israel come to the prophet to seek revelation from the Lord. Even though they do not verbalize their inquiries, the one being sought already understands their unspoken thoughts, which is a remarkable testament to His divine knowledge, as He responds to the silent concerns of their hearts.

These individuals, living in transgression and resisting the healing that comes from repentance, sought to question the Lord not to follow His will but to see if His divine responses would align with their own thoughts. This was often the case with Zedekiah, who pleaded with Jeremiah for a clear message from God, and upon learning God's commands, chose to disobey. The same was true for those who ventured into Egypt after the exile. Consequently, the Almighty does not wish to answer them; as it is taught in the holy Gospel that He knows the hearts of all people (1 Cor. 2:11). The Prophet was also instructed to disregard them and refrain from praying for them, signifying this when he stated, 'If you are to avenge them, O son of man, if you will indeed avenge them,' meaning do not consider them as a shepherd and do not accept their inquiries. Instead, you shall testify to them about the sins of their forefathers, and you shall declare to them, 'This is what the Lord God says: From this day forward, Israel was chosen and taken to be among the descendants of Jacob, known to them in Egypt, and I held their hand, saying: I am the Lord your God; I will lift up My hand in that day to deliver them from the land of Egypt and bring them into the land I have prepared for them, a land flowing with milk and honey, which surpasses all others. To those approaching you, O Prophet, remind them of My blessings, recount the shortcomings of their ancestors, and explain how I revealed Myself to their forefathers in Egypt, long before they honored or served the idols of Egypt, teaching them that I am both God and Lord. He shares these truths with the intent to liberate them from bondage, fulfill promises, and grant them the land of blessings, a land rich in abundance for its inhabitants, described as surpassing all the earth, often referred to metaphorically as the creation of bees, for He expressed this by saying that the honeycomb is sweeter than all other things, calling it a honeycomb filled with honey."