Ezekiel 9

1

Then he cried in my ears with a loud voice, saying, “Cause those who are in charge of the city to draw near, each man with his destroying weapon in his hand.”

2

Behold, six men came from the way of the upper gate, which lies toward the north, every man with his slaughter weapon in his hand. One man in the middle of them was clothed in linen, with a writer’s inkhorn by his side. They went in, and stood beside the bronze altar.

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 2. Upper, leading to the court of the priests. These were six angels, representing the army coming from Babylon. The seventh was an angel of peace. Calmet.—God never abandoned his whole Church. Worthington.

Read all chapter notes

3

The glory of the God of Israel went up from the cherub, whereupon it was, to the threshold of the house; and he called to the man clothed in linen, who had the writer’s inkhorn by his side.

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 3. House; to the holy place, shewing that he abondoned those in the temple. Calmet.

Read all chapter notes

4

The LORD said to him, “Go through the middle of the city, through the middle of Jerusalem, and set a mark on the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry over all the abominations that are done within it.”

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 4. Mark Thau. Thau, or Tau, is the last letter in the Hebrew alphabet, and signifies a sign or a mark: which is the reason why some translators render this place set a mark, or mark a mark, without specifying what this mark was. But S. Jerom, and other interpreters, conclude it was the form of the letter thau, which, in the ancient Hebrew character, was the form of a cross. Challoner.—Of this many inscriptions still extant bear witness. Montfaucon.—Some Rabbins allow that the last letter was used but in honour of “the law,” Thorah. The cross is supposed to be the hieroglyphic of a future life, (Hist. Rufini. ii. 29.) and found frequently in the pictures or ( Bible.) in the tables of Isis. But it rather represents a key. Soldiers who were acquitted received the letter T, and those who were sentenced to die had Θ, ( Calmet.) alluding to Θανατος, “death.” Bible.—We may, however, suppose that if God designated any letter, it would be some letter of the Hebrew alphabet, and accordingly the last had formerly the figure of †. x. though this text may signify “a sign” in general. The virtuous would be discriminated from the guilty, as if they were marked. Calmet.—The door-posts of the Hebrews were stained with blood, in Egypt, to shew that all should be redeemed by that of Christ; and here those who shall be saved, received the mark of his cross. This sign has always been held in veneration among Christians, ( Worthington.) and used in conferring baptism, consecrating the blessed Eucharist, and so forth Saint John Chrysostom hom. lv. in Mat. and lxxxiv. in Jo. Saint Augustine tr. cxviii. in Jo. Ser. ci. de temp. and so forth—It appeared to Constantine with this inscription, “In this conquer;” (Eus. vit. i. 22.) and again over Jerusalem; (Saint Cyril ep. ad Constantium.) and will be borne before Christ, at his last coming, (Matthew 24) to the joy of those who have performed their baptismal promises, and to the confusion ( Worthington.) of the enemies of the cross of Christ. Bible.

Read all chapter notes

5

To the others he said in my hearing, “Go through the city after him, and strike. Don’t let your eye spare, neither have pity.

6

Kill utterly the old man, the young man, the virgin, little children and women; but don’t come near any man on whom is the mark. Begin at my sanctuary.” Then they began at the old men who were before the house.

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 6. Sanctuary. Aquila, “temple,” or people ( Calmet.) consecrated to my service, (Septuagint Tirinus.) particularly ( Calmet.) the twenty-five idolaters, the ancients and women. Calmet. Calmet. 8:16.—Judgment beginneth at the house of God, (1 Peter 4:17) and those ( Bible.) who abuse holy things are justly cut off. Worthington.

Read all chapter notes

7

He said to them, “Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain. Go out!” They went out, and struck in the city.

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 7. Defile. Septuagint “you have defiled.” I regard the place no longer. Calmet.

Read all chapter notes

8

While they were killing, and I was left, I fell on my face, and cried, and said, “Ah Lord GOD! Will you destroy all the residue of Israel in your pouring out of your wrath on Jerusalem?”

9

Then he said to me, “The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great, and the land is full of blood, and the city full of perversion; for they say, ‘The LORD has forsaken the land, and the LORD doesn’t see.’

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 9. Perverseness, in “wresting of judgment.” Prot. marg. What else can be expected, when the judges deny Providence? Bible.

Read all chapter notes

10

As for me also, my eye won’t spare, neither will I have pity, but I will bring their way on their head.”

11

Behold, the man clothed in linen, who had the inkhorn by his side, reported the matter, saying, “I have done as you have commanded me.”