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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:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
<< Ezekiel 9:1   Ezekiel 9:3 >>


Ezekiel 9:2

clothed with linen— (Daniel 10:5; Daniel 12:6-7). His clothing marked his office as distinct from that of the six officers of vengeance; "linen" characterized the high priest (Leviticus 16:4); emblematic of purity. The same garment is assigned to the angel of the Lord (for whom Michael is but another name) by the contemporary prophet Daniel (Daniel 10:5; Daniel 12:6-7). Therefore the intercessory High Priest in heaven must be meant (Zechariah 1:12). The six with Him are His subordinates; therefore He is said to be "among them," literally, "in the midst of them," as their recognized Lord (Hebrews 1:6). He appears as a "man," implying His incarnation; as "one" (compare I Timothy 2:5). Salvation is peculiarly assigned to Him, and so He bears the "inkhorn" in order to "mark" His elect (Ezekiel 9:4; compare Exodus 12:7; Revelation 7:3; Revelation 9:4; Revelation 13:16-17; Revelation 20:4), and to write their names in His book of life (Revelation 13:8). As Oriental scribes suspend their inkhorn at their side in the present day, and as a "scribe of the host is found in Assyrian inscriptions accompanying the host" to number the heads of the slain, so He stands ready for the work before Him. "The higher gate" was probably where now the gate of Damascus is. The six with Him make up the sacred and perfect number, seven (Zechariah 3:9; Revelation 5:6). The executors of judgment on the wicked, in Scripture teaching, are good, not bad, angels; the bad have permitted to them the trial of the pious (Job 1:12; II Corinthians 12:7). The judgment is executed by Him (Ezekiel 10:2, Ezekiel 10:7; John 5:22, John 5:27) through the six (Matthew 13:41; Matthew 25:31); so beautifully does the Old Testament harmonize with the New Testament. The seven come "from the way of the north"; for it was there the idolatries were seen, and from the same quarter must proceed the judgment (Babylon lying northeast of Judea). So Matthew 24:28.

stood—the attitude of waiting reverently for Jehovah's commands.

brazen altar—the altar of burnt offerings, not the altar of incense, which was of gold. They "stood" there to imply reverent obedience; for there God gave His answers to prayer [CALVIN]; also as being about to slay victims to God's justice, they stand where sacrifices are usually slain [GROTIUS], (Ezekiel 39:17; Isaiah 34:6; Jeremiah 12:3; Jeremiah 46:10).




Other Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown entries containing Ezekiel 9:2:

Ezekiel 9:1
Ezekiel 9:5
Ezekiel 10:2
Amos 9:1
Revelation 7:3

 

<< Ezekiel 9:1   Ezekiel 9:3 >>

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