(20) In majesty.--Rather, for pride. That which had been given them "for the beauty of ornament," viz., their silver and gold (Ezekiel 7:19), they had perverted to purposes of pride. Nay, further, they had even made their idols of it; therefore God "set it far from them." The same strong word is used here as in Ezekiel 7:19 = made it filth unto them. The singular and plural pronouns, "he," "his," "they," "their," "them," all alike refer to the people.
Verse 20. - As for the beauty of his ornament. The latter word is commonly used of the necklaces, armlets, etc., of women (Exodus 33:4-6; Isaiah 49:18; Jeremiah 2:32; Jeremiah 4:30). So again in Ezekiel 16:7, 11; Ezekiel 23:40. The singular is used of the people collectively, or of each man individually, like German man or French on. He set it in majesty; better, he - or to give the sense they - turned it to pride. Wealth and art had ministered, as in Isaiah 2:16, first to mere pride and pomp; then they made out of their ornaments the idols which they worshipped, and which were now, the same emphatic word being repeated, as a pollution to them.
7:16-22 Sooner or later, sin will cause sorrow; and those who will not repent of their sin, may justly be left to pine away in it. There are many whose wealth is their snare and ruin; and the gaining the world is the losing of their souls. Riches profit not in the day of wrath. The wealth of this world has not that in it which will answer the desires of the soul, or be any satisfaction to it in a day of distress. God's temple shall stand them in no stead. Those are unworthy to be honoured with the form of godliness, who will not be governed by its power.
As for the beauty of his ornament, he set it in majesty,.... Or, "for pride" (i). The gold, silver, jewels, riches, and treasure, which the Lord gave to this people, they made a bad use of; and instead of contributing to the support of his worship and interest, and of giving liberally to the poor, they converted it to their own pride and luxury: or rather the temple, as Jarchi and Kimchi interpret it, is meant; which was a beautiful structure, and adorned with gifts, and set for glory, majesty, and excellency by the Lord; yea, where his excellent Majesty dwelt himself:
but they made the images of their abominations and of their detestable things therein; or, "of it" (k); that is, of their gold and silver, which is another bad use they put their riches to: or rather "in it" (l); that is, the temple; where, having made their idols, they placed them; see Jeremiah 7:30;
therefore have I set it far from them; that being destroyed, and they being carried away captive into a strange land, far from that.
(i) "in superbiam", V. L. Calvin, Starckius. (k) "ex eo", Tigurine version. (l) "In eo". Pagninus, Montanus, Polanus, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Starckius.
but they made the images of their abominations and of their detestable things therein; or, "of it" (k); that is, of their gold and silver, which is another bad use they put their riches to: or rather "in it" (l); that is, the temple; where, having made their idols, they placed them; see Jeremiah 7:30;
therefore have I set it far from them; that being destroyed, and they being carried away captive into a strange land, far from that.
(i) "in superbiam", V. L. Calvin, Starckius. (k) "ex eo", Tigurine version. (l) "In eo". Pagninus, Montanus, Polanus, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Starckius.