Ezekiel 20:28
For when I had brought them into the land, for the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to them, then they saw every high hill, and all the thick trees, and they offered there their sacrifices, and there they presented the provocation of their offering: there also they made their sweet savour, and poured out there their drink offerings.
Study Note
Study Note
'For when I had brought them into the land, for the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to them, then they saw every high hill, and all the thick trees, and they offered there their sacrifices' — Ezekiel 20's historical retrospective of Israel's persistent idolatry from Egypt through Canaan presents the land itself as immediately weaponized against covenant fidelity: the very gift of Canaan became the occasion for Canaanite religious syncretism. The 'high hills and thick trees' (the high places and sacred groves of Canaanite practice) represent the entrenched indigenous religion that Israel absorbed rather than displaced, making Ezekiel's audience the culmination of a pattern established at the moment of conquest.
Other Translations
For when I had brought them into the land, which I sware to give unto them, then they saw every high hill, and every thick tree, and they offered there their sacrifices, and there they presented the provocation of their offering; there also they made their sweet savor, and they poured out there their drink-offerings.
And I bring them in unto the land, That I did lift up My hand to give to them, And they see every high hill, and every thick tree, And they sacrifice there their sacrifices, And give there the provocation of their offering, And make there their sweet fragrance, And they pour out there their libations.
For when I had taken them into the land which I made an oath to give to them, then they saw every high hill and every branching tree and made their offerings there, moving me to wrath by their offerings; and there the sweet smell of their offerings went up and their drink offerings were drained out.
Cross References
Upon a lofty and high mountain hast thou set thy bed: even thither wentest thou up to offer sacrifice.
Enflaming yourselves with idols under every green tree, slaying the children in the valleys under the clifts of the rocks?
The Lord said also unto me in the days of Josiah the king, Hast thou seen that which backsliding Israel …
And I brought you into a plentiful country, to eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof; but when ye …
Yet also I lifted up my hand unto them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the …
In the day that I lifted up mine hand unto them, to bring them forth of the land of Egypt …
My meat also which I gave thee, fine flour, and oil, and honey, wherewith I fed thee, thou hast even …
Then shall ye know that I am the Lord, when their slain men shall be among their idols round about …
And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all …
Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy …