Commentary on Ezekiel Chapters 1-20 John Calvin
EZEKIEL
for retreating: some refer this to the people and elicit this sense, that those who so pervert God's worship recede from his sanctuary, because they have no longer anything in common with God. But I rather interpret it concerning God himself, who is compelled to depart from his sanctuary, as we shall afterwards see. For while they so defiled the temple with their sacrilege, they yet thought God included therein.
He now renounces the temple, and says, that he left the place empty and void, because he could not bear to dwell among that sordid defilement. The meaning is, that God would depart from his temple, because the complete worship which he had commanded under the law did not flourish there. And this place is worthy of notice, because we gather from it that God could not bear the profanation of his worship, but will leave those who pervert his law by their fictions, as we see the Jews did.
At this day we know how haughtily the Papists pride themselves in their figments, but the more they heap together fictitious ceremonies the more they provoke God's anger. Hence it happens that they vainly boast that they have him in their temples, as they think. For this sentiment will ever remain fixed, that God cannot dwell in a profane place. Now nothing sanctifies a place more than obedience and sincerity of faith. When men introduce their inventions, it immediately causes God to depart from them: this is the full meaning. Now he adds, turn thyself, and thou shalt see great abominations. Some translate greater, but because a question would arise, why he calls the abomination first greater and then different, I interpret it simply that the Prophet should see other great abominations. Afterwards indeed he will express another, for he will say {,}גדלות{ }מאלהתועבותgedloth-maleh-thogn-both, but in my opinion there is no comparison here between greater and less; {,}מאלה maleh, I simply interpret *``beyond* others,'' and I rather approve of this simplicity, because interpreters anxiously labor to show this last abomination heavier than all others, though the reason for it does not clearly appear. But there is no need of our making these difficulties, because the Prophet only speaks of great abominations.
Let us go on ---
Ezekiel 8:7-11
7. And he brought me to the door of the court; and, when I looked, behold a hole in the wall.
7. Et induxit me in portam Atrii et aspexi, et ecce foramen unum in pariete.
8. Then said he unto me, Son of man, dig now in the wall: and, when I had digged in the wall, behold a door.
8. Et dixit ad me, Fill hominis, fode agedum parietem: et fodi in pariete, et ecce porta una.
9. And he said unto me, Go in, and behold the wicked abominations that they do here.
9. Et dixit ad me, Ingredere, et vide abominationes malas quas ipsi faciunt.
10. So I went in and saw; and behold every form of creeping things, and abominable beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel, portrayed upon the wall round about.
10. Et ingressus sum, et aspexi: et ecce omnis similitudo reptilis, et animalis