Thu the Bible: Ezekiel 17-20 When our hearts are wicked, even good is looked upon as evil. God had told Israel long ago that the sins of the father were "visited" upon the 3rd and 4th generations OF THOSE WHO HATE ME. Which pagan Israel interpreted to mean that the children were punished by God for the sins of their fathers. The word translated into the English word "visit" is unfortunate. It literally means to "deal with". The passage is saying that God will deal with the children who are following in their father's footsteps of hating Him. The fact that God is mentioned as a jealous God in this passage is also misunderstood. This word Jealous would be better translated at "zealous" - taken together God is zealous for His people, dealing with the children who carry on the sins of their fathers who hated God so as to dissuade them from their sin and to prevent such malace from spreading through out the entire Jewish community. I hope this study helps you! Blessings