1.
He cried also in mine ears with a loud voice, saying, Cause them that have charge over the city to draw near, even every man with his destroying weapon in his hand.
He cried , &c. Contrast "though they cry", &c. (Ezekiel 8:18 )
every man . Hebrew. 'ish. App-14 .
destroying = dashing (in pieces).
weapon . A various reading called Sevir . ( App-34 ), with some codices, four early printed editions, Septuagint, and Syriac, reads "weapons" (plural)
2.
And, behold, six men came from the way of the higher gate, which lieth toward the north, and every man a slaughter weapon in his hand; and one man among them was clothed with linen, with a writer's inkhorn by his side: and they went in, and stood beside the brasen altar.
behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .
six men. Evidently supernatural. Angels are often called "men".
men. Heb, plural of enosh. App-14 .
man. Hebrew. 'ish . App-14 .
weapon . A various reading called Sevir, with some codices, one early printed edition, and Syriac, reads weapons (plural)
a writer's inkhorn . See Eze 9:41 . Seen in use in the East to this day.
3.
And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon he was, to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed with linen, which had the writer's inkhorn by his side;
the glory, &c. See note on Ezekiel 1:28 .
the God of Israel . See note on Isaiah 29:23 .
God . Hebrew. Elohin, App-4 .
cherub . Singular, as in Ezekiel 1:20 .
He: or, It. the house: i.e. the Temple building.
the man clothed with linen . Compare Daniel 10:5 , Daniel 10:6 . Revelation 1:13 .
4.
And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .
set a mark. Compare Revelation 7:3 ; Revelation 9:4 ; Revelation 13:16 , Revelation 13:17 ; Revelation 20:4 .
mark. Hebrew Occurs elsewhere only in Job 31:35 .
5.
And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity:
spare = shield.
6.
Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house.
begin at My sanctuary. Compare Isaiah 10:12 .Jeremiah 25:29 ; Jeremiah 49:12 .Malachi 3:5 . 1 Peter 4:17 .
ancient = elders.
7.
And he said unto them, Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain: go ye forth. And they went forth, and slew in the city.
8.
And it came to pass, while they were slaying them, and I was left, that I fell upon my face, and cried, and said, Ah Lord GOD! wilt thou destroy all the residue of Israel in thy pouring out of thy fury upon Jerusalem?
I fell upon my face. See note on Ezekiel 1:28 .
Ah. Figure of speech Ecphonesis. App-6 .
Lord GOD . Hebrew. Adonai Jehovah . App-4 . See note on Ezekiel 2:4 .
9.
Then said he unto me, The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceeding great, and the land is full of blood, and the city full of perverseness: for they say, The LORD hath forsaken the earth, and the LORD seeth not.
iniquity . Hebrew `avnh, App-44 .
exceeding great. Figure of speech Epizeuxis. App-6 . Hebrew = "great, by degree, degree",
Hath forsaken . See Ezekiel 8:12 .
10.
And as for me also, mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity, but I will recompense their way upon their head.
Mine eye, &c. See note on Ezekiel 5:11 ; Ezekiel 5:7 , Ezekiel 5:4 ; Ezekiel 8:18 .
according as . Some codices, with three early printed editions, read "according to all which".
11.
And, behold, the man clothed with linen, which had the inkhorn by his side, reported the matter, saying, I have done as thou hast commanded me.