Matthew Poole and continuators on Ezekiel 20:5

5 ¶ And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day when I chose Israel, and lifted up my hand unto the seed of the house of Jacob, and made my self known unto them in the land of Egypt, when I lifted up mine hand unto them, saying, I am the LORD your GOD.

At the time, the season, it speaks not of that precise portion of hours, which make up the natural day, but of the time, wherein God began to shew them his great mercy.

It includes mercy without merit in them, and it refers to Gods declaring by his kindness to them, that he had chosen them, it supposeth the free eternal election, but it expressely refers to a temporal, and seasonable selecting them from others; chosen as Isaiah 14.1. again Deut. 7.6, 7. or possibly thus, when I went to make them a choice people by refining them from their dross, and Idolatries contracted in Egypt, so the word Isa. 48.10. and selecting them.

Not personally considered, but nationally.

Either assuring them by oath, that he would now make good his promise, and bring them out of bondage, 'tis the gesture of one, that solemnly sweareth, and Scriptures frequently mention it as ver. 15. and Deut. 32.40. Or else stretcht out, and made bare my arm, i. e. magnified my power for your deliverance.

This explaineth, and tells us who Israel was.

By the Miracles, which he wrought: for 'tis not to be understood of making known, or discovering his essence, and incomprehensible being.

'tis not unlikely that many of them, either were ignorant, or forgot God, now by his wonders wrought for their deliverance he brings them to remember him, and look to him, Moses his question in Exod. 3.13. seems to intimate this ignorance of this people.

As this expressly directs us to the place, so it points out the time too, when Israel was chosen, selected.

Shewed my power in performing my oath, and promise in what was now to be done, and assuring them of doing what was farther promised by him, and expected by them, and to assure them the more, 'tis doubled.

So Exod. 3.13.16, 17. Yours from your Progenitors, yours by promise, by covenant, and now am come to be your God by actual, and punctual performing my word to you, bringing you out of the Land of Egypt by a lifted up hand and arm.

Marginal references: Exod. 6.7. ver. 6.; Or, sware.; Exod. 3.8. and 4.31.