Ezekiel 20:26

And I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused to pass through the fire all that openeth the womb, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I am the LORD.

I polluted them in their own gifts - 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 [ bªha`ªbiyr (H5674)], '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 paganish practices with Yahweh'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 the English version is supported by the similar phraseology in Ezekiel 20:31, where see my note. They made all their children pass through the fire, but he names the first-born ("all that openeth the womb"), in aggravation of their guilt - i:e., '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 Moloch' (Deuteronomy 18:10).

That I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I am 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.