1 The destruction of the city. 4 They that shall be saved, are marked. 8 A complaint of the Prophet for the destruction of the people.

He cried also with a loud voice in mine ears, saying, The visitations of [a]the city draw near, and every man hath a weapon in his hand to destroy it.

And behold, six [b]men came by the way of the high gate, which lieth toward the [c]North, and every man a weapon in his hand to destroy it: and one man among them was clothed with linen, with a writer’s [d]inkhorn by his side, and they went in and stood beside the brazen altar.

And the glory of the God of Israel was [e]gone up from the Cherub, whereupon he was, and stood on the [f]door of the house, and he called to the man clothed with linen, which had the writer’s inkhorn by his side.

And the Lord said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, even through the midst of Jerusalem, and [g]set a mark upon the foreheads of them that [h]mourn, and cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.

And to the other he said, that I might hear, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let your eye spare none, neither have pity.

Destroy utterly the old, and the young, and the maids, and the children, and the women, but touch no man, upon whom is the [i]mark, and begin at my Sanctuary. Then they began at the [j]ancient men, which were before the house.

And he said unto them, Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain, then go forth: and they went out and slew them in the city.

Now when they had slain them, and I had escaped, I fell down upon my face, and cried, saying, [k]Ah Lord God, wilt thou destroy all the residue of Israel, in pouring out thy wrath upon Jerusalem?

Then said he unto me, The iniquity of the house of Israel, and Judah is exceeding great, so that the land is full of [l]blood, and the city full of corrupt judgment: for they say, The Lord hath forsaken the earth, and the Lord seeth us not.

10 As touching me also, mine eye shall not spare them, neither will I have pity, but will recompense their ways upon their heads.

11 And behold, the man clothed with linen which had the inkhorn by his side, made report, and said, Lord, I have done as thou hast commanded me.

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 9:1 The time to take vengeance.
  2. Ezekiel 9:2 Which were Angels in the similitude of men.
  3. Ezekiel 9:2 Signifying, that the Babylonians should come from the North to destroy the city and the Temple.
  4. Ezekiel 9:2 To mark them that should be saved.
  5. Ezekiel 9:3 Which declared that he was not bound thereunto, neither would remain any longer, than there was hope that they would return from their wickedness and worship him aright.
  6. Ezekiel 9:3 Or, Threshold.
  7. Ezekiel 9:4 Or, mark with [x].
  8. Ezekiel 9:4 He showeth what is the manner of God’s children, whom he marketh to salvation: to wit, to mourn and cry out against the wickedness, which they see committed against God’s glory.
  9. Ezekiel 9:6 Thus in all his plagues the Lord preserveth his small number, which he marketh, as Exod. 12:12; Rev. 7:3, but the chief mark is the Spirit of adoption, wherewith the heart is sealed up to life everlasting.
  10. Ezekiel 9:6 Which were the chief occasion of all these evils, as Ezek. 8:11.
  11. Ezekiel 9:8 This declareth that the servants of God have a compassion, when they see his judgments executed.
  12. Ezekiel 9:9 That is, with all kinds of wickedness, read Isa. 1:15.

Judgment on the Idolaters

Then I heard him call out in a loud voice, “Bring near those who are appointed to execute judgment on the city, each with a weapon in his hand.” And I saw six men coming from the direction of the upper gate, which faces north, each with a deadly weapon in his hand. With them was a man clothed in linen(A) who had a writing kit at his side. They came in and stood beside the bronze altar.

Now the glory(B) of the God of Israel went up from above the cherubim,(C) where it had been, and moved to the threshold of the temple. Then the Lord called to the man clothed in linen who had the writing kit at his side and said to him, “Go throughout the city of Jerusalem(D) and put a mark(E) on the foreheads of those who grieve and lament(F) over all the detestable things that are done in it.(G)

As I listened, he said to the others, “Follow him through the city and kill, without showing pity(H) or compassion.(I) Slaughter(J) the old men, the young men and women, the mothers and children,(K) but do not touch anyone who has the mark.(L) Begin at my sanctuary.” So they began with the old men(M) who were in front of the temple.(N)

Then he said to them, “Defile the temple and fill the courts with the slain.(O) Go!” So they went out and began killing throughout the city. While they were killing and I was left alone, I fell facedown,(P) crying out, “Alas, Sovereign Lord!(Q) Are you going to destroy the entire remnant of Israel in this outpouring of your wrath(R) on Jerusalem?(S)

He answered me, “The sin of the people of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great; the land is full of bloodshed and the city is full of injustice.(T) They say, ‘The Lord has forsaken the land; the Lord does not see.’(U) 10 So I will not look on them with pity(V) or spare them, but I will bring down on their own heads what they have done.(W)

11 Then the man in linen with the writing kit at his side brought back word, saying, “I have done as you commanded.”