Commentaries:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
I polluted them—not directly; "but I judicially gave them up to pollute themselves." A just retribution for their "polluting My sabbaths" (Ezekiel 20:24). This Ezekiel 20:26 is explanatory of Ezekiel 20:25. Their own sin I made their punishment.
caused to pass through the fire—FAIRBAIRN translates, "In their presenting (literally, 'the causing to pass over') all their first-born," namely, to the Lord; referring to the command (Exodus 13:12, Margin, where the very same expression is used). The lustration of children by passing through the fire was a later abomination (Ezekiel 20:31). The evil here spoken of was the admixture of heathenish practices with Jehovah's worship, which made Him regard all as "polluted." Here, "to the Lord" is omitted purposely, to imply, "They kept up the outward service indeed, but I did not own it as done unto Me, since it was mingled with such pollutions." But English Version is supported by the similar phraseology in Ezekiel 20:31, see on Ezekiel 20:31. They made all their children pass through the fire; but he names the first-born, in aggravation of their guilt; that is, "I had willed that the first-born should be redeemed as being Mine, but they imposed on themselves the cruel rites of offering them to Molech" (Deuteronomy 18:10).
might know . . . the Lord—that they may be compelled to know Me as a powerful Judge, since they were unwilling to know Me as a gracious Father.
Other Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown entries containing Ezekiel 20:26:
Deuteronomy 2:16
Ezekiel 20:26
Ezekiel 20:31
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