THEOSISCyrill of Alexandria
Having been summoned, as previously mentioned, from their bondage and returning to Judah, the people grew complacent in their endeavors to please God. Although they abandoned the worship of idols and were no longer led astray by prior transgressions, they incurred the Lord's displeasure in other respects. As recorded in the book of Ezra, they intermingled with foreign women and brought the daughters of neighboring nations into their homes, becoming fathers to children with these foreign mothers, despite the prohibition set forth in the law against such impiety. Moreover, they showed indifference toward the feasts and sacrifices, lacking the zeal to build the sacred temple.
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Hence, it is noted in Haggai, "smite them with unfruitfulness, and with wind, and with hail all the works of their hands." "And they put into the fur of the barley two hundred and sixty sats, and there were ten sats of barley," and again, "they entered into the chisel to scoop out fifty measures, and there were two hundred and sats" (Haggai 2:16-17).
Consequently, it is communicated to them that if they choose to amend their lives and return to Him, doing what is pleasing and acceptable in His sight, He will also turn toward them, ceasing His anger and extending His mercy. He counsels them against following their ancestors' destructive behaviors, for numerous exhortations and reminders from the holy prophets urged their forebears to abandon shameful pursuits, yet these entreaties fell upon deaf ears due to their inclination towards disobedience. It is indeed foolish for those who emulate the folly of their fathers to use their ancestral customs as an unassailable defense, even in the face of grievous wrongdoing. This is especially true of idolaters. Called to the truth, they continually invoke the errors of their ancestors, clinging to their ignorance as if it were a cherished inheritance, remaining blind to its consequences.
I believe that if anyone were to counsel those who are of the circumcision to forsake shameful activities and focus on what is beneficial, they too would likely retreat to the habits of their fathers. Therefore, it was beneficial to cry out to those who have strayed, "Turn to me, and I will turn to you, saith the Lord Almighty," and "Be not as your fathers were," readily aimed at those wandering and persisting in their ignorance.