1.

And thou, son of man, take thee a sharp knife, take thee a barber's rasor, and cause it to pass upon thine head and upon thy beard: then take thee balances to weight, and divide the hair.

son of man . See note on Ezekiel 2:1 .
knife = sword, as in Ezekiel 5:12 , and Ezekiel 11:8 , Ezekiel 11:10
take thee a barber's rasor = as a barber's rasor shalt thou take it. This is the sign of the Assyrian army; Isaiah 7:20 ).
thee . The 1611 edition of the Authorized Version reads "the".

2.

Thou shalt burn with fire a third part in the midst of the city, when the days of the siege are fulfilled: and thou shalt take a third part, and smite about it with a knife: and a third part thou shalt scatter in the wind; and I will draw out a sword after them.

in the midst of the city . Which he had graven on the brick See the signification in Ezekiel 5:12 ,
fulfilled = completed. Compare Ezekiel 4:8 .
a = the. Compare Ezekiel 5:1 .
in to.
wind . Hebrew ruach. App-9 .
draw out a sword , &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 26:33 ).
sword . Same word as "knife" (vs Ezekiel 5:1 ). App-92 .

3.

Thou shalt also take thereof a few in number, and bind them in thy skirts.

4.

Then take of them again, and cast them into the midst of the fire, and burn them in the fire; for thereof shall a fire come forth into all the house of Israel.

the house of Israel . As in Ezekiel 4:3 .

5.

Thus saith the Lord GOD; This is Jerusalem: I have set it in the midst of the nations and countries that are round about her.

the Lord GOD = Adonai Jehovah, As in Ezekiel 2:4
This is Jerusalem . Compare Ezekiel 4:1 .

6.

And she hath changed my judgments into wickedness more than the nations, and my statutes more than the countries that are round about her: for they have refused my judgments and my statutes, they have not walked in them.

changed = rejected, or rebelled against. Compare Ezekiel 20:8 , Ezekiel 20:13 , Ezekiel 20:21 , Numbers 20:24 ; Numbers 27:14 . Hebrew. march. Occurs forty-two times in O.T., and rendered "changed" only here. See notes on Ezekiel 2:3 , Ezekiel 2:6 .
wickedness . Hebrew. rdshii'. App-44 .
they : i.e. the nations and the countries.

7.

Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye multiplied more than the nations that are round about you, and have not walked in my statutes, neither have kept my judgments, neither have done according to the judgments of the nations that are round about you;

multiplied = rebelled.
statutes . See notes on Genesis 26:5 .Deuteronomy 4:1 .
neither have kept = and have not kept.
neither have done , &c.: or, "and according to the statutes of the nations which are round about you have not done". Some codices, with two early printed editions and Syriac, omit this "not". Compare Ezekiel 11:12 .

8.

Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, am against thee, and will execute judgments in the midst of thee in the sight of the nations.

Behold . Figure of speech Asterismos, App-6 .

9.

And I will do in thee that which I have not done, and whereunto I will not do any more the like, because of all thine abominations.

10.

Therefore the fathers shall eat the sons in the midst of thee, and the sons shall eat their fathers; and I will execute judgments in thee, and the whole remnant of thee will I scatter into all the winds.

the fathers shall eat , &c. = fathers shall eat, &c. (no Art.) Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 26:29 . Deuteronomy 28:53 ).

11.

Wherefore, as I live, saith the Lord GOD; Surely, because thou hast defiled my sanctuary with all thy detestable things, and with all thine abominations, therefore will I also diminish thee; neither shall mine eye spare, neither will I have any pity.

as I live . Figures of speech Deesis and Anthropopatheia. App-6 .
saith the LORD = [is] Jehovah's oracle.
hast defiled . This charge is substantiated in Ezekiel 8 .
diminish thee . So the Western codices. Hebrew. 'egra' (with Resh = r). But the Eastern oodices read 'egda' (with Daleth = d) =. "I shall cut off", with the former reading in margin, But some codices, with two early printed editions, read "cut off" in the text.
Mine eye, &c. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6 , Ref to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 13:8 ). Compare Ezekiel 7:4 ; Ezekiel 8:18 ; Ezekiel 9:10 . App-92 .

12.

A third part of thee shall die with the pestilence, and with famine shall they be consumed in the midst of thee: and a third part shall fall by the sword round about thee and I will scatter a third part into all the winds, and I will draw out a sword after them.

A third pert, &c. This is the signification of the sign (verses: Ezekiel 5:1-4 ).
pestilence, and with famine . Op. Josephus, Antiquities x, 8. i.
all the winds = all quarters, Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6 .

13.

Thus shall mine anger be accomplished, and I will cause my fury to rest upon them, and I will be comforted: and they shall know that I the LORD have spoken it in my zeal, when I have accomplished my fury in them.

and . Note the Figure of speech Polyeyndeton ( App-6 ).
I will be comforted. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 32:36 ). Compare Isaiah 1:24 , App-92 .
the LORD . Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .
zeal = jealousy.

14.

Moreover I will make thee waste, and a reproach among the nations that are round about thee, in the sight of all that pass by.

I will make thee waste . Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 26:31 , Leviticus 26:32 ). App-92 ,

15.

So it shall be a reproach and a taunt, an instruction and an astonishment unto the nations that are round about thee, when I shall execute judgments in thee in anger and in fury and in furious rebukes. I the LORD have spoken it.

be a reproach and a taunt, Sc. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 28:37 , the words being different). App-92 .
unto. Some codices, with one early printed edition, Septuagint, and Vulgate, read "in", or "among".

16.

When I shall send upon them the evil arrows of famine, which shall be for their destruction, and which I will send to destroy you: and I will increase the famine upon you, and will break your staff of bread:

I shall sand, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 32:23 , Deuteronomy 32:24 ).
which : or, who.
break your staff of bread, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 26:26 ). App-92 . Compare Ezekiel 4:13 .

17.

So will I send upon you famine and evil beasts, and they shall bereave thee; and pestilence and blood shall pass through thee; and I will bring the sword upon thee. I the LORD have spoken it.

So will I send, Sc, Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 26:22 .Deuteronomy 32:24; Deuteronomy 32:24 ),
I will bring the sword , Re. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 26:25 ). App-92 . Compare Ezekiel 6:3 ; Ezekiel 11:8 ; Ezekiel 11:14 , Ezekiel 11:17 ; Ezekiel 29:8 ; Ezekiel 33:2 . Not used elsewhere in O.T.