Ezekiel Chapter 9
1 Then he cried in my ears with a loud voice, saying, "Cause those who are in charge of the city to draw near, each man with his destroying weapon in his hand."
2 Behold, six men came from the way of the upper gate, which lies towards the north, every man with his slaughter weapon in his hand. One man in the middle of them was clothed in linen, with a writer's inkhorn by his side. They went in, and stood beside the bronze altar.
3 The glory of the God of Israel went up from the cherub, whereupon it was, to the threshold of the house; and he called to the man clothed in linen, who had the writer's inkhorn by his side.
4 The LORD said to him, "Go through the middle of the city, through the middle of Jerusalem, and set a mark on the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry over all the abominations that are done within it."
5 To the others he said in my hearing, "Go through the city after him, and strike. Don't let your eye spare, neither have pity.
6 Kill utterly the old man, the young man, the virgin, little children and women; but don't come near any man on whom is the mark. Begin at my sanctuary." Then they began at the old men who were before the house.
7 He said to them, "Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain. Go out!" They went out, and struck in the city.
8 While they were killing, and I was left, I fell on my face, and cried, and said, "Ah Lord GOD! Will you destroy all the residue of Israel in your pouring out of your wrath on Jerusalem?"
9 Then he said to me, "The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great, and the land is full of blood, and the city full of perversion; for they say, 'The LORD has forsaken the land, and the LORD doesn't see.'
10 As for me also, my eye won't spare, neither will I have pity, but I will bring their way on their head."
11 Behold, the man clothed in linen, who had the inkhorn by his side, reported the matter, saying, "I have done as you have commanded me."
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Ezekiel Chapter 9 Guide
The next section of the message most remarkably reveals the fact of the divine discrimination in judgment. The prophet was charged in the vision to cause those who had charge over the city to draw near, armed with weapons of destruction. In response, six men came from the way of the upper gate, and a seventh, clothed in linen, with a writer's inkhorn by his side. The glory of the God of Israel had departed from the centre of the Temple to the threshold of the house.
These men were now charged to pass through the midst of the city, and slay the inhabitants. The man with the inkhorn, however, went through the midst of the city first, setting a mark on the foreheads of such as mourned the abominations which had been described. The six men followed him, slaying utterly, beginning at the house, and moving through the city. In this terrible process of judgment all those on whom the mark was found-those who in their hearts mourned the evil existing in the city-were spared.
The vision of judgment appalled the prophet, so that falling on his face, he cried out in intercession. He was answered by the declaration that the sin of Israel and Judah was great, and that therefore the judgment was irrevocable.
From "An Exposition of the Whole Bible" by G. Campbell Morgan.
Ezekiel Chapter 9 Commentary
Chapter Outline
- A vision denoting the destruction of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the departure of the symbol of the Divine presence.
Verses 1-4
It is a great comfort to believers, that in the midst of destroyers and destructions, there is a Mediator, a great High Priest, who has an interest in heaven, and in whom saints on earth have an interest. The representation of the Divine glory from above the ark, removed to the threshold, denoted that the Lord was about to leave his mercy-seat, and to pronounce judgment on the people. The distinguishing character of this remnant that is to be saved, is such as sigh and cry to God in prayer, because of the abominations in Jerusalem. Those who keep pure in times of general wickedness, God will keep safe in times of general trouble and distress.
Verses 5-11
The slaughter must begin at the sanctuary, that all may see and know that the Lord hates sin most in those nearest to him. He who was appointed to protect, reported the matter. Christ is faithful to the trust reposed in him. Is he commanded by his Father to secure eternal life to the chosen remnant? He says, Of all that thou hast given me, I have lost none. If others perish, and we are saved, we must ascribe the difference wholly to the mercy of our God, for we too have deserved wrath. Let us still continue to plead in behalf of others. But where the Lord shows no mercy he does no injustice; he only recompenses men's ways.
From the "Concise Commentary on the Bible" by Matthew Henry.