Ezekiel 20:35

wilderness of the people—rather, "peoples," the various peoples among whom they were to be scattered, and about whom God saith (Ezekiel 20:34), "I will bring you out." In contrast to the literal "wilderness of Egypt" (Ezekiel 20:36), "the wilderness of the peoples" is their spiritual wilderness period of trial, discipline, and purification while exiled among the nations. As the state when they are "brought into the wilderness of the peoples" and that when they were among the peoples "from" which God was to "bring them out" (Ezekiel 20:34) are distinguished, the wilderness state probably answers partially to the transition period of discipline from the first decree for their restoration by Cyrus to the time of their complete settlement in their land, and the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the temple. But the full and final fulfilment is future; the wilderness state will comprise not only the transition period of their restoration, but the beginning of their occupancy of Palestine, a time in which they shall endure the sorest of all their chastisements, to "purge out the rebels" (Ezekiel 20:38; Daniel 12:1); and then the remnant (Zechariah 13:8-9; Zechariah 14:2-3) shall "all serve God in the land" (Ezekiel 20:40). Thus the wilderness period does not denote locality, but their state intervening between their rejection and future restoration.

plead—bring the matter in debate between us to an issue. Image is from a plaintiff in a law court meeting the defendant "face to face." Appropriate, as God in His dealings acts not arbitrarily, but in most righteous justice (Jeremiah 2:9; Micah 6:2).