Ezekiel 20:35

And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face.

I will bring you into the wilderness of the people - rather, peoples; the various peoples among whom they were to be scattered, and from whom God saith () "I will bring you out." In contrast to the literal "wilderness of Egypt" (), "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" (), 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 fulfillment 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" (; ), and then the remnant (Zech. 43:8-9; 14:2-3 ) shall "all serve God in the land" (). Thus the wilderness period does not denote locality, but their state intervening between their rejection and future restoration.

There will I plead with you - I will bring the matter in debate between us to an issue. Image 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 (; ).