INTRODUCTION TO EZEKIEL 9 In this chapter is contained a vision, representing the destruction of the idolatrous Jews, and the preservation of the godly that were among them, in which different persons were employed; they that were concerned in the destruction of the idolaters are described by their... [ Continue Reading ]
HE CRIED ALSO IN MINE EARS WITH A LOUD VOICE,.... That is, the glory of the Lord God of Israel, whom the prophet saw in the temple, and who directed him from place to place, and showed him all the abominations committed there: this loud voice of the Lord was not so much to excite the attention of th... [ Continue Reading ]
AND, BEHOLD, SIX MEN,.... Either angels the form of men; or the generals of Nebuchadnezzar's army, as Kimchi interprets it; whose names are, Nergalsharezer, Samgarnebo, Sarsechim, Rabsaris, Nergalsharezer, Rabmag, Jeremiah 39:3; these six executioners of God's vengeance are, in the Talmud n, called... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE GLORY OF THE GOD OF ISRAEL WAS GONE UP FROM THE CHERUB, WHEREUPON HE WAS,.... That is, the glorious God of Israel; or the glorious Shechinah, and divine Majesty, which dwelt between the cherubim over the mercy seat in the most holy place, removed from thence, as a token of his being about t... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE LORD SAID UNTO HIM,.... This shows that a divine Person is meant by the glory of the God of Israel: GO THROUGH THE MIDST OF THE CITY; that is, as it is next explained, THROUGH THE MIDST OF JERUSALEM; the city the six men had the charge over or against, Ezekiel 9:1; AND SET A MARK UPON THE... [ Continue Reading ]
AND, TO THE OTHERS HE SAID IN MINE HEARING,.... To the other six men that had the slaughter weapons in their hands: GO YE AFTER HIM THROUGH THE CITY; that is, after the man clothed with linen; for he was sent out first to take care of the righteous, and preserve them; and the rest were not suffered... [ Continue Reading ]
SLAY UTTERLY OLD [AND] YOUNG, BOTH MAIDS, AND LITTLE CHILDREN, AND WOMEN,.... All, of them objects of compassion, because of their age and sex; and yet none to be spared; and which orders were exactly obeyed; see 2 Chronicles 36:17; BUT COME NOT NEAR ANY MAN ON WHOM [IS] THE MARK; these were not t... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SAID UNTO THEM, DEFILE THE HOUSE,.... The temple; do not be afraid of slaying any person in it, for fear of defiling it; they have defiled it with their abominations, and now do you defile it with their blood: AND FILL THE COURTS WITH THE SLAIN; the court of the priests, and the court of the... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT CAME TO PASS, WHILE THEY WERE SLAYING THEM,.... That were in the city: AND I WAS LEFT; in the temple; and the only one that was left there, the rest were slain; for there were none marked in the temple, only in the city, Ezekiel 9:4; THAT I FELL UPON MY FACE; as a supplicant, with great hum... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN HE SAID UNTO ME,.... In order to satisfy the prophet, and make him easy, and show the equity and justice of the divine proceedings: THE INIQUITY OF THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AND JUDAH [IS] EXCEEDING GREAT; it cannot be well conceived or expressed how great it is; it abounded and superabounded: this... [ Continue Reading ]
AND AS FOR ME ALSO,.... As they have not spared the poor and the needy, the widow and the fatherless, but have perverted their judgment, and shed innocent blood: MINE EYE SHALL NOT SPARE, NEITHER WILL I HAVE PITY, [BUT] I WILL RECOMPENCE THEIR WAY UPON THEIR HEAD; deal with them by the law of retal... [ Continue Reading ]
AND, BEHOLD, THE MAN CLOTHED WITH LINEN, WHICH [HAD] THE INKHORN BY HIS SIDE,.... Ezekiel 9:2; to whom the orders were given to mark the mourners in the city, Ezekiel 9:4. The Syriac version is, "then I saw the man", c. which must direct him to observe and call to mind the distinguishing goodness of... [ Continue Reading ]