Commentary on Ezekiel Chapters 1-20 John Calvin (continued)
JOHN CALVIN
dederam tibi: et fecisti tibi imagines masculi, 361 et scortata es cum illis.
The Prophet reproves them because they used silver and gold in making idols for themselves. He not only condemns idolatry, but ingratitude, since they turned to God's dishonor the gifts which he had bestowed. First, the profanation of his gifts was base; besides this, they had rashly and purposely abused his liberality to his dishonor, and that was not to be endured. He reproves at the same time their blind intemperance, since they willingly gave themselves up to licentiousness, and buried themselves in their superstitions. But he does not say that they simply took gold and silver, but vessels of elegance or beauty of gold and silver. Whence it appears that they were blinded by furious lusts, as we have seen. He still pursues the simile of fornication, when he calls these manufactured deities images of males; and it seems obliquely to mark the excess of lust in having to do with shadows; by which he means that they were hurried away about nothing by their unbridled appetites, just as a woman feeds her passion by the mere picture of her paramour. It now follows ---
Ezekiel 16:18-19
18. And tookest thy broidered garments, and coveredst them: and thou hast set mine oil and mine incense before them.
18. Et tulisti 362 vestes tuas discolores, 363 et operuisti eos 364 et oleum meum, et suffitum meum dedisti coram ipsis. 365
19. My meat also which I gave thee, fine flour, and oil, and honey, wherewith I fed thee, thou hast even set it before them for a sweet savour: and thus it was, saith the Lord GOD.
19. Et. panem meum quem dederam tibi, similam, et oleum, et mel quibus te cibaveram 366 etiam dedisti coram ipsis in odorem quietis: et ita fuit, dicit Dominator
Iehovah.
Here God complains that the Jews turned their abundance of all things to perverse worship: for, as a husband who indulges his wife freely supplies all her wants, so a woman who is immodest was what she has received from her husband, and bestows it on adulterers; so also the Jews were prodigal in the worship of idols, and wasted upon them the blessings which God had bestowed upon them. Ezekiel, therefore, now follows up this sentiment. He says that they took those variegated garments, of which we spoke yesterday, and covered their idols; just as if an adulteress were to clothe her paramours in the very garments which she had received from her husband's liberality: you have covered them, he says. He afterwards adds, you have offered my oil and incense. Here he speaks more clearly, although he does not depart far from the figure, for they were accustomed to use oil in sacrifices; and incense was used by all nations when they wished to propitiate their deities. There is no doubt that the unbelievers imitated the holy fathers, but sinfully, because they
361That is, "masculine." — Calvin. 362Or, "has taken." — Calvin. 363Or, "variated." — Calvin. 364Namely, "the false gods or lovers." — Calvin. 365That is, "has offered to them." — Calvin. 366Or, "had nourished." — Calvin.