John Calvin Commentary Ezekiel 20:29

"Then I said unto them, What meaneth the high place whereunto ye go? So the name thereof is called Bamah unto this day." — Ezekiel 20:29 (ASV)

Although there is no ambiguity in the Prophet’s words, the sentence still seems to lack impact. In my judgment, interpreters have not understood the Prophet’s meaning. It may seem weak that God should ask, what is the high place? However, this question signifies that they were not deceived through ignorance. God had often cautioned them against profaning true and genuine worship, and He frequently endeavored to draw them back when He saw them wandering after their own superstitions.

Therefore, they are continually rebuked by the prophets, and their obstinacy is even more apparent because they nonetheless persisted in their own perversity. But because all these reproaches were useless, God here elaborates on their crime, since they were deaf. I have said, therefore—that is, by means of prophets. For we know how consistently the prophets fulfilled their duty by urging them to worship at one altar only.

For this reason, the people’s wickedness was greater. Therefore, God asks what this means: why do they so greatly desire their high places when these displease Him and they know His commands? He declares that their ears are deaf and obstructed by wickedness. Overall, God questions how such madness could seize them that they would approach these high places, since He had designated a place where He was to be sought and invoked.

He says His temple is neglected, while they run to high places; and yet it is known by the name of a high place. There is no hidden meaning in this phrase. Rather, God means that no reproaches or threats from His prophets could prevent the people from worshipping on these high places.

He says, then, that the name 'high place' was still used. This was because the same dignity and religious regard for these places still flourished, even when their memory should have been utterly abolished.

If God had only once pronounced that those high places were not approved by Him, everyone should have changed their course instantly. Yet, He exclaimed against them long and vehemently through His prophets. Despite this, the name “high places” was constantly in everyone’s mouth; it was well-known among them, as if God should be sought there.

Therefore, we now see that the Jews were condemned for excessive pride. This was because they not only failed to abandon their high places when repeatedly admonished, but they also maliciously wished to set up those places in opposition to God’s sanctuary, although these were so many defilements.

From this, we understand the condemnation of the people’s obstinate malice, as fathers passed down the name to their sons. Consequently, through successive generations, they set these high places in opposition to the one sanctuary of God.