Bible Commentaries
Ezekiel 9

Verse 1

Eze 9:1. The reader should be cautioned against confusion over what is going on in these chapters. Beginning with chapter 8 and continuing through 11, Ezekiel was seeing things performed in a vision, as if he had been taken to Jerusalem where the events were supposed to be happening. In reality, the prophet has been in the land of Chaldea or Babylon all the time. (See Eze 11:24.) So bear in mind as we are considering the various performances along in these passages that they are what Ezekiel was seeing in the vision. It is true, however, that many of the events and conditions that were shown the prophet in a vision in the land of Babylon, were actually existing in the land of Judea. With these explanatory remarks for the clarification of the matter, I shall proceed to comment on the verses. Have, charge over the city means those whose duty it was to execute any decrees that may have been made concerning it. These men were ordered to come forward, armed for the task placed upon them.

Verse 2

Eze 9:2. Upon the order mentioned in the preceding verse, six armed men came forward. All of this indicated that they would be used to execute the decrees of God. Another man was in the company of these six and he was clothed, with linen which indicated that he represented the priestly or ritualistic class of men. The brazen altar was used for the offering of bloody sacrifices, therefore it was appropriate that this group of seven men should take their position by the altar. The priests would make an account of the creatures to be considered with reference to the altar service, hence the inkhorn hanging at his side for convenient use.

Verse 3

Eze 9:3. Glory of God, . . . from the cherub refers to the glory that was bestowed upon the ark in the begining of the Jewish Dispensation. (See Exo 25:22; 2Sa 6:2.) This glory moved to a position of communication with the man clothed with linen (representing the priesthood). Such a move indicated that the Lord was about to inspire the man with the Inkhorn so that he could do some writing or marking.

Verse 4

Eze 9:4. Before any general destruction or calamity is brought upon mankind by the Lord, he always makes provision to spare those who are worthy. We may recall the cases of Noah and the flood, Lot in Sodom, the Israelites in Egypt, and the plan of salvation as an escape from the perdition in the next world, In keeping with that principle, the Lord was making provisions to spare certain ones from a general slaughter which these six men would soon be told to execute. The ones to be spared were described as those that sigh and cry for all the abominations that were being done in Jerusalem, These men were not responsible fov the corruptions that had crept into the religious and public life of the city, hence they were to be spared from the severe punishment about to be inflicted upon the majority. The reader should consult the long note offered In connection with 2Ki 22:17, This exception was to be Indicated by being marked upon their foreheads by the man with the inkhorn.

Verse 5

Eze 9:5. The others are the six men mentioned in verse 2. They were to follow the man with the inkhorn who was to be marking the ones exempted from the slaughter. The executioners were charged to smite the others without pity.

Verse 6

Eze 9:6. No age or sex was to be spared in the slaying by these six men. The only exception they were allowed to make was those who had the mark upon them. Begin at my sanctuary. This was because I he greatest blame was laid upon the leaders and officials of the Lord’s service. They were to be held most guilty because of their position. The thought is similar to that in 1Pe 4:17-18.

Verse 7

Eze 9:7. The house of the Lord had been, defiled doctrinally by the abominable idolatry of these evil men, now it will be fitting to defile it physically by filling it with their dead bodies. So the men were again told to go forth and slay in the city.

Verse 8

Eze 9:8. As the men were performing their duty of slaying the inhabitants of the city, the prophet was left alone and he became prostrated by the scenes. Palling upon the ground he prayed earnestly and expressed anxiety over the terrible situation.

Verse 9

Eze 9:9. The Lord explained his great fury for the information of the prophet. Just at that time Israel (the 10 tribes) was in exile and had been for more than a century, yet her stns came up for remembrance now in connection with those of Judah, some of whose men were still in Jerusalem.

Verse 10

Eze 9:10. The people of Israel and Judah had shed blood in tbelr evil practices of idolatry, but God was determined to shed their blood in the righteousness of His indignation over the false worship that was going on.

Verse 11

Eze 9:11, The men sent forth to execute the decree of God did their duty, and the man with the Inkhorn came back with his report of the same