This is no arbitrary sentence. The fault was all along their own. The fruit of their own ways is death.

They hated knowledge - This argues the deepest degree of intellectual and moral depravity.

For that they hated knowledge,.... Spiritual and evangelical; the knowledge of the Scriptures, of the promises and prophecies of them respecting the Messiah, though they were called upon and exhorted to "search" them; the knowledge of the Messiah, his person, offices, and grace; the knowledge of his Gospel, and the doctrines of it; see Proverbs 1:22;
and did not choose the fear of the Lord; which is the beginning of knowledge, Proverbs 1:7; instead of choosing, they cast off the fear of the Lord; and by their rejection of the Messiah, and their usage of him, it plainly appeared that the fear of God was not before their eyes nor upon their hearts; nor did they choose or care for the pure, spiritual, and evangelical worship of God, introduced in the Gospel dispensation; the ordinances of Christ they did not choose to submit to; and would neither go into he kingdom of God or Gospel church state themselves, nor suffer those that were entering to go in, Matthew 23:13; but rather chose their superstition and will worship, according to the tradition of the elders, by which they made the word and worship of God of none effect.

The sinner's infatuated rejection brings his ruin.

Knowledge - The practical knowledge of God and of their duty.