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Ezekiel 9:2
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The Wicked Are Slain

1 Then He called out in my hearing with a loud voice, saying, “Let those who have charge over the city draw near, each with a1 deadly weapon in his hand.”  
2 And suddenly six men came from the direction of the upper gate, which faces north, each with his1 battle-ax in his hand. aOne man among them was clothed with linen and had a writer’s inkhorn2 at his side. They went in and stood beside the bronze altar.  
3 Now athe glory of the God of Israel had gone up from the cherub, where it had been, to the threshold of the1 temple. And He called to the man clothed with linen, who had the writer’s inkhorn at his side;  
4 and the Lord said to him, “Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put aa mark on the foreheads of the men bwho sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it.”  
5 To the others He said in my1 hearing, “Go after him through the city and akill; bdo not let your eye spare, nor have any pity.  
6 aUtterly slay old and young men, maidens and little children and women; but bdo not come near anyone on whom is the mark; and cbegin at My sanctuary.” dSo they began with the elders who were before the2 temple.  
Commentaries:
Barnes' Notes
<< Ezekiel 9:1   Ezekiel 9:3 >>


Ezekiel 9:2

Six men - angels of wrath - figurative of destruction. They come from the north, the quarter from which invading armies entered the holy land. These "six" angels, with the "one among them," a superior over the six, make up the number "seven," a number symbolic of God' s covenant with His people.

The higher gate - The north gate of the court of the priests. The temple rose by platforms; as there was a north gate to the outer and also to the inner court, the latter was probably distinguished as the "higher gate." It was built by Jotham II Kings 15:35.

Clothed with linen - The priestly garment Exodus 28:6, Exodus 28:8; Leviticus 16:4. This "One Man" (Compare Daniel 10:5; Revelation 1:13) was the "angel of the covenant," the great high priest, superior to those by whom He was surrounded, receiving direct communication from the Lord, taking the coals of vengeance from between the cherubim Ezekiel 10:2, but coming with mercy to the contrite as well as with vengeance to the impenitent; these are attributes of Jesus Christ John 5:30; Luke 2:34; Matthew 9:13; John 6:39.

A writer' s inkhorn - Usually a flat case about nine inches long, by an inch and a quarter broad, and half an inch thick, the hollow of which serves to contain the reed pens and penknife. At one end is the ink-vessel which is twice as heavy as the shaft. The latter is passed through the girdle and prevented from slipping through by the projecting ink-vessel. The whole is usually of polished metal, brass, copper or silver. The man with the inkhorn has to write in the Book of Life the names of those who shall be marked. The metaphor is from the custom of registering the names of the Israelites in public rolls. Compare Exodus 32:33; Psalms 69:28; Isaiah 4:3; Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:5.




Other Barnes' Notes entries containing Ezekiel 9:2:

2 Kings 25:4
Amos 9:1

 

<< Ezekiel 9:1   Ezekiel 9:3 >>

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