John Calvin Commentary Ezekiel 20:30

"Wherefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Do ye pollute yourselves after the manner of your fathers? and play ye the harlot after their abominations?" — Ezekiel 20:30 (ASV)

Now at last the Prophet openly attacks those who consulted him. After showing that they descended from impure fathers—which was clear enough from their continually provoking God in every age from the very beginning to the end—he turns their own language against them and asks, whether they were polluted according to the superstitions of their fathers? The old interpretation is “truly”; but ה (he), the mark of interrogation, does not allow for that.

I am surprised at the interpretation of some expositors, “Are you not polluted?” as if the word were הלוא (hel-va), because in my opinion, they distort the Prophet’s meaning. This would make him ask absurdly, “What? Are you polluted in the manner of your fathers? And have you gone astray after their idols?” For when they were in exile, that disinheritance should have subdued them, even though they had been endowed with a more than iron pride. Then they feigned piety when they came to the Prophet and desired to receive some comfort from him.

Since, therefore, they feigned some modesty, God here asks them, how could they pollute themselves in the manner of their fathers? What could it all mean? The situations are completely contradictory: you approach my servant as if you intended to submit your minds and senses to my word; but when you so pretend to be attentive to my answers, how does it happen that you pollute yourselves in the manner of their fathers? This, it seems to me, is the Spirit’s meaning.

You shall say, then, “Are you polluted in the manner of your fathers?” That is, are you so obstinate that you do not reflect on your course and never look back? For you see how severely God took vengeance for your obstinacy: you now seek me in appearance, as if this were your only refuge; then how is it that you pollute yourselves in the manner of your fathers? And why do you commit fornication after their idols?