Albert Barnes Commentary Ezekiel 20:5-9

"and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: In the day when I chose Israel, and sware unto the seed of the house of Jacob, and made myself known unto them in the land of Egypt, when I sware unto them, saying, I am Jehovah your God; in that day I sware unto them, to bring them forth out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had searched out for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands. And I said unto them, Cast ye away every man the abominations of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt; I am Jehovah your God. But they rebelled against me, and would not hearken unto me; they did not every man cast away the abominations of their eyes, neither did they forsake the idols of Egypt. Then I said I would pour out my wrath upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt. But I wrought for my name`s sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, among which they were, in whose sight I made myself known unto them, in bringing them forth out of the land of Egypt." — Ezekiel 20:5-9 (ASV)

The children of Israel in Egypt were warned to abstain from the idolatry of the pagans. They lost sight of this purpose, yet God spared them and brought them into another state of probation (Ezekiel 20:5).

Lifted up mine hand—that is, swore, because the hand was lifted up in swearing an oath (Ezekiel 20:8).

Idols of Egypt—These incidental notices show the children of Israel in Egypt to have been addicted to idolatry .

I wrought for my name’s sake—so that it would not appear to the Egyptians that Yahweh was a God who would, but could not, save (Ezekiel 20:9).