Bible Commentaries
Ezekiel 9

Verses 1-11

EZEKIEL - CHAPTER 9

VISION OF THE SLAUGHTER IN JERUSALEM

Verses 1-11:

Verse 1 reports that God called loudly or clearly in Ezekiel’s ears, repeatedly saying, "cause those who have charge over the city to draw near," each man with his own destroying weapon in his hand. Those called were administrative officers in the city of Jerusalem, Isaiah 60:17; as also angels are described, Daniel 4:13; Daniel 10:20-21.

Verse 2 discloses that six men came from the higher gate to the north with slaughter weapons in hand. And in the midst of the six men was one man, a seventh clothed in linen, like the vesture of the high priest, even the son of man, Leviticus 16:4; Hebrews 1:6; 1 Timothy 2:5. This one represented no less than an heavenly messenger of the Lord with a special commission, as in Daniel 10:5; Daniel 12:6. This seventh person, the intercessory high priest, had instead of a slaughter weapon, a writers inkhorn upon his loins, Zechariah 1:12. And they (the seven men) went in and stood before the brazen altar, where the sacrifice was made for sin, in its worst form, Ezekiel 8:16.

Verse 3 declares that the glory of the God of Israel (the Shekinah) rose up from the holy place, Ezekiel 3:23; Ezekiel 8:4, and it moved: 1) out or retired to the threshold of the house or temple, Ezekiel 10:4; Ezekiel 10:2) later it moved from there, Ezekiel 10:18; Ezekiel , 3) it moved from the temple to Mt Olivet, Ezekiel 11:23; Ezekiel , 4) it will return to abide in the millennial temple, Ezekiel 43:2-5. He dwells between the cherubims, 2 Samuel 6:2; Psalms 50:1.

Verse 4 continues to relate that the Lord directed the man with the horn to pass through the midst of the city of Jerusalem and "set a mark upon the foreheads," of the men who sighed and cried because of the abominations that were done in their midst, Exodus 12:7; Job 31:35; Revelation 7:3; Revelation 9:4; Revelation 13:16-17; Revelation 20:4. The setting of the mark, the Hebrew tau, on the forehead was to mark them as a remnant to be preserved, Ezekiel 11:16-21; Isaiah 1:9; Romans 11:5; Revelation 7:3; Revelation 14:1.

Verse 5 further asserts that the Lord said to the others (the six men with slaughter weapons) to follow after the man with the inkhorn who had marked those who mourned for sins of their city, Revelation 9:4. These were directed to smite or destroy, without pity or mercy, the rest of those who lived in the polluted city. This awaits a final fulfillment, Revelation 7:3-8; Revelation 8:5, when the 144 redeemed Jews are sealed, Zechariah 13:9; Zechariah 14:2.

Verse 6 directs these six slaughtering men to slay the old and young, both maids and little children, and women, without mercy, 2 Chronicles 36:17, at the mandate of the Lord. But they were warned not to come near to any man with the mark, Hebrews 13:5; 1 Corinthians 10:31. They were to begin this slaughter at the sanctuary of the Lord, 1 Peter 4:17. It is then declared that they did what they were told, beginning with the 70 evil men of Ezekiel 8:11-12.

Verse 7 declares that the Lord directed these six slaughtering men to defile the house or temple and fill the court of the temple with the dead bodies of the slain, doing it without delay, and they did it, Numbers 19:13. The slaughterers did the bidding of the Lord with military dispatch, or abruptness, beginning with the 70 elders, Jeremiah 8:11; 1 Peter 4:17-18.

Verse 8 describes Ezekiel’s emotions in the vision, as the slaughter of all in the temple was finished, and he was left alone for a moment, among the corpses. He then fell upon his face in the vision, in the defiled temple and cried aloud to God, as Moses and Aaron did at Korah’s sin, Numbers 16:22. He asked God if He would destroy the residue of covenant Israel, even those of his own people now in captivity with him in Babylon.

Verse 9 continues to explain that the Lord advised Ezekiel that the iniquity (violent lawlessness) of the house of Israel and Judah was exceeding great, and the land was full of blood, and Jerusalem was full of perverseness. For the people had said, concluded that the Lord had forsaken the earth, and saw them not, Psalms 10:11; See also Ezekiel 8:17; 2 Kings 21:16. Denial of the providence and omniscience of God is the source of all lawlessness.

Verse 10 relates that the Lord had responded that His eye did see but He would not spare their judgment or longer show pity. Instead He confirmed that He would recompence their way (course of conduct) upon their head, Galatians 6:7-8; Proverbs 1:31.

Verse 11 declares that the messenger-man with the inkhorn by his side, clothed in linen, reported the completion of his mark ­making mission, on which he had been mandated of the Lord, even as the Lord did, John 17:4; Psalms 103:21; Mark 6:30. For angels are ministering servants of the Lord, to minister help to the people of God, and judgment upon His enemies, Hebrews 1:14. For "the counsel of the Lord shall stand," Ezekiel 11:14.