John Gill Commentary Ezekiel 20:23

"Moreover I sware unto them in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the nations, and disperse them through the countries;" — Ezekiel 20:23 (ASV)

I lifted up mine hand also to them in the wilderness Swore unto them, as in (Ezekiel 20:5Ezekiel 20:6Ezekiel 20:15) ; that I would scatter them among the Heathen, and disperse them through the countries ; after they came to be settled in the land of Canaan, they sinning against the Lord; which was fulfilled in the times of the Babylonish captivity, and in their destruction by the Romans; but was threatened and foretold while they were in the wilderness, (Leviticus 26:33) (Deuteronomy 32:26) ; with this compare (Psalms 106:26–30) .