John Calvin Commentary Ezekiel 8:15-16

"Then said he unto me, Hast thou seen [this], O son of man? thou shalt again see yet greater abominations than these. And he brought me into the inner court of Jehovah`s house; and behold, at the door of the temple of Jehovah, between the porch and the altar, were about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of Jehovah, and their faces toward the east; and they were worshipping the sun toward the east." — Ezekiel 8:15-16 (ASV)

Here the Prophet refers to another profanation of the temple, since the chief citizens of Jerusalem and those who ought to point out the way to others, prostituted themselves to impious worship. He says, therefore, that he saw about twenty-five men, and it is probable that there were this many among the leading citizens.

But a specific number is used for an approximate one, and I think that the Prophet was not so precise on this point, or rather the Spirit of God, who showed that number in the vision. Whatever the exact number was, they not only worshipped the sun in private houses but in the temple itself, and that not without gross and pointed contempt of God.

For when they turned their backs on the sanctuary, they made a laughingstock of God. From this it appears that they were of such audacity that they openly boasted in their superstitions and purposely polluted God’s temple.

This, indeed, was monstrous: to see the elders of the city, and those experienced in the teaching and worship of the law, so estranged from all piety as to worship the sun. For this could not have happened through either error or ignorance. God in His law, when He forbids the worship of the sun and stars, adds as a reason that the whole celestial host was created for our use (Deuteronomy 17:3).

Since, therefore, the sun is our servant and the moon our handmaid, and the stars also were created to serve us, it is preposterous to depart from the divinely ordained order, so that the sun, which was given to us to spend its time in our service, should be a god to us. Since God has testified to this in His law, there was no excuse for error when the Jews worshipped towards the east.

Now he also adds another greater dishonor done to God, when they turned their backs upon His sanctuary. They could, as I have said, pollute themselves at home and in concealment with such defilements. But when they came willingly into the temple, it is as if they provoked God by open defiance. Now, when they turn their backs, this is not only a foul denial but also a contempt of God, as if they had said that He was unworthy of their respect.

Therefore, we now see the full impact of the passage. But He says, Turn yet again, and you shall see great abominations: Some translate it as "greater," as I have previously mentioned, but I do not think that is suitable. I do not argue for it, but if a reason is asked why this abomination is greater than others, it is not clear to me; therefore, I prefer to take it more simply in the positive degree.

Nor is it an objection to this that מאלה (maleh) is added, for מ (mem) is not always taken comparatively. Instead, I think it only means, as if God had said, "You will see other abominations besides those already mentioned." But He points out the place in the temple where they worshipped the sun, namely, between the porch and the altar. This was a sign of great impiety to break into the holy place and from there to despise God.

Now we know that for the faithful, turning their eyes to the sanctuary and the ark of the covenant is a sign of lawful adoration. But when they turned their backs on it, there is no doubt that they openly intended to boast in their contempt of God and the law. It is already apparent that they had adopted various and countless forms of superstition. In Egypt, they had not seen the worship of the sun, nor do we read that such worship was practiced in Chaldea. But because they heard that the Persians and other Eastern peoples worshipped the sun as a god, they imitated their custom. Therefore, we see that they accumulated rites for themselves from these peoples, creating an immense collection.