John Calvin Commentary Ezekiel 16:55

"And thy sisters, Sodom and her daughters, shall return to their former estate; and Samaria and her daughters shall return to their former estate; and thou and thy daughters shall return to your former estate." — Ezekiel 16:55 (ASV)

A clearer explanation of the former doctrine now follows: that the Jews should thus find God merciful when His mercy reached Samaria and Sodom. But that could never happen, and therefore the Jews were reduced to despair; for, as I have said, the Prophet argues from what is impossible and almost absurd. Just as Virgil writes:

“The inhabitants of seas and skies shall change,
And fish on shore, and stags in air shall range.”
Virgil, Dryden’s Eclogue 1, Line 60.

This can never take place, and so it implies the complete denial of what might seem doubtful. This way of speaking is proverbial, as when Ezekiel says that the Sodomites and Israelites should return to their ancient state or their former dignity; and that could never be hoped for, as I have said. Therefore, it follows that the Jews could not be safe when God draws them into the same punishment.

Besides, the Prophet speaks as if the city would be cut off and the temple overthrown, since the Jews had often been threatened with this, and he had shown them the wrath of God present before their eyes. But, although they had always hoped for the best, he despises their pride by which they were blinded and utters his prophecies openly, as if God had already executed whatever He had threatened. For this reason he says, the captivity of your captivities shall be in the midst of them.

They might object that they still enjoyed their country, cultivated their fields, and had sufficient food for their support, even though besieged by their enemies. But the Prophet looked down upon all this, because before God the city was, as it were, taken and all were exiles, since God had not threatened them in vain. Weakness here compels me to break off.

Prayer:

Grant, Almighty God, since in Your inestimable mercy You have deigned to separate us from the profane nations and to adopt us into Your family, that we may so conduct ourselves that You may not treat us as strangers. But while You acknowledge us as Your sons, may Your Spirit govern us until the end, so that Your name may be glorified in us, and at last we may be made partakers of that glory which has been acquired for us through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.