Ezekiel 20:1-9

It was the seventh year, the fifth month, and the tenth day after our deportation to Babylon. Some of the elders of Israel came to request that I ask YAHWEH for his message to them. As we sat together, YAHWEH spoke to me, saying, “Son of man, give the elders of Israel this message: ‘Lord YAHWEH says to you: Are you really coming to consult with me? As surely as I live, I will tell you nothing. I, Lord YAHWEH, have spoken.’ ” Then he said to me, “Judge them, Ezekiel! Bring a charge against them, son of man! Confront them over the disgusting practices of their ancestors! Tell them what I, Lord YAHWEH, say: ‘On the day when I chose Israel to be my people, I pledged my word to the tribes of Jacob, and I revealed myself to them in Egypt. I pledged my word to them and said: I am YAHWEH your God. That day I promised that I would bring them out of Egypt to a land I had searched out especially for them—a land flowing with milk and honey, the most splendid land of all. And I said to them, “Every one of you, get rid of the things you love that I hate. Don’t make yourselves unfit for my presence by worshiping the idols of Egypt. For I am YAHWEH your God.” But they rebelled against me and refused to listen to me. Not one of them rejected the detestable things their eyes feasted on, nor did they give up the idols of Egypt. So in my anger, I decided to pour out my wrath on them and vent my anger against them in the midst of Egypt.’ I acted to protect the honor of my name, so that I would not be profaned in the eyes of the surrounding nations who saw me reveal myself by bringing the Israelites out of Egypt.”