Ezekiel 9

God commandeth six men to execute his vengeance in Jerusalem ver 1 .The glory of the Lord departeth to be threshold of the temple 3.God commandeth a man clothed in linen first to set a mark upon all the godly 4.He commandeth the others to destroy all the rest 5.Which being done ,the prophet greatly troubled at it 8 Receiveth thereupon answer from God 9.The man clothed in linen reporteth the execution of his commission 11.

1. After that he [namely the Lord of whom see above chap 1 on vers 26] cried before mine ears with a loud voice [that is so that 1 Ezekiel heard this cry understand by this cry the Gods power providence whereby he moveth the creatures to executes his will and eternal counsel]saying [to wit the holy Angels that are at Gods service to execute his commands and judgments Psal 103 .20 Hebrews 1:14]cause the overseer of the city namely Jerusalem .Heb .oversight & c .that is those that had the oversight :meaning certain angels that were appointed by God as overseers of the city :for they were by him set over lands ,nations ,and cities ,not only to preserve and defend them 2 Kings 6:17 .Daniel 10:20,21,22. but also to punish them Genesis 19:12,13 2 Kings 19:35 they are called princes Daniel 10:20,21 also dominions ,principalities ,powers , Colos 1.18that is rulers ,commanders ,potentates .so here oversight for overseers ,commissioners ]to draw near and every man with his destroying weapon [Heb weapon or furniture of destruction ;that is whereby he should destroy the inhabitants of the city] in his hand.

2. And behold six men [that is as some are of opinion six angels in the shape of men compare Genes 18.2 Mark 16:5 Acts 1:10 some take it that by these men are meant the Chaldeans or the commanders of the army that should besiege Jerusalem.Others ,the nations and kingdoms which the Chaldeans should have for their aid and assistance in his expeditions] came from the way of higher gate [see of this gate 2Kings 15 on vers 35 also 2 Chrons 27.3 Jerem 26.10]which is turned towards the north [to wit from whence the Chaldeans should come that should destroy the city and the temple]and every one [to wit of those six men]with his crushing weapon [Heb the furniture of his crushing, that is; the weapon wherewith he should crush and batter in pieces]in his hand and one man in the midst of them [to wit ,distinct from the six men aforementioned for they were sent to destroy having their weapons ready for it ;but this man to save ,having for that purpose his inkhorn and a command to mark the godly as followeth]was clothed with linen [like priest see Exodus 28:39 Levit 6.10 some understand by this man our only high Priest the Lord Jesus Christ ,who is sent by his Father to deliver his people from the destruction of the soul and consequently he is not here considered in his divine Majesty and Glory ,which he hath common with the father and the holy Ghost as above chap 1.26 but in the state of his humiliation and office of Mediatourship]and a writer ink-horn [to wit ,out of which the writer taketh ink with his pen]was on his lions ;[meaning ,hanging on the girdle of his lions]and they went in and stood by his copper altar [so called Exodus 38:30. 2Kings 16.14 otherwise the altar of burnt offerings Exodus 30:28 of this place see Levit 1.3 ,5 a further description thereof see 2 Chron 4 on vers 1 .]

3. And the glory of the God of Israel [see above chap 1 on vers 28] lifted up itself from the Cherub [meaning the Cherubim that where over the ark in the most holy place ,for a token of Gods gracious presence with that people .Some understand the Cherubims which Ezekiel saw in his vision compare below chap 10 on vers 4 with the annotate see of the Cherubims Genes 3 on vers 24]where upon he was [to wit God of Israel ,or she was namely the glory of God] to threshold of the house that is the end of the most holy place this signifieth that God would part from the temple ]and he called to the man that was clothed in linen which had the writer ink-horn on his lions .

4. And the Lord said unto him ,go thorow ,thorow the midst of the city and thorow the midst of Jerusalem ,and mark a mark upon the foreheads of the man that sigh [which were the remnant of Gods people hid among the back sliding generation .This marking was not done corporally by a visible and outward mark upon the body ;but spiritually by an invisible and inward mark upon the spirit ,which distinguisheth true believers from all hypocrites and unbelievers .For all this is done in a spiritual vision and consequently not by a corporal act compare Revel 7 .3] and cry out for all abominations that are done in the midst thereof namely of the city of Jerusalem .]

5. But to those others [to wit those six other men that were appointed to destroy , to kill, and to cut off ,of whom see above vers 2]he said before mine ears ,go thorow ,thorow the city after him, [to wit that had the ink-horn on his lion and went before see of this man above vers 2 and the annotate the killing might not be done to those that were to be saved were marked ,and so exempted from the common destruction compare Genes 19.22] and smite :[that is killing ,destroy cut off compare chap 7.9]let not your eye pity neither spare ye .

6. Slay ,old men ,young men ,and maids ,and little children ,and women even to the destruction ,[see the accomplishment 2Chrons 36.17]but come not near any man upon whom the mark is :[seeing some that were marked have also tasted of the outward punishment ,as namely Jeremia ,that was an exile in Egypt ,and others besides :understand this as was said before ,of the spiritual preservation unto salvation]and begin at my sanctuary ][to wit the staying the staying or killing] at my sanctuary [that is at my temple see 2 Chron 20on vers 8]and they began at the ancient man which where before the house [that is before the temple so in the sequel see of these ancient men above on chap 8.11 and the annotate .]

7. And he said unto them defile the hose which was done by the dead bodies which was slain in it compare Numb 19.11 2 Kings 23:16 ]and fill the courts [see of both courts the inner and the outer court 1 King 6on vers 36]with the slain go forth and they smote in the city that is they made a great slaughter and killing of all forts of men throughout the whole city see the word smiting taken for killing Genes 8 on vers 21 .]

8. Now it came to pass when they had smitten them [to wit the inhabitants of Jerusalem]and I was left ; [to wit supposing myself to be left alone .compare 1 Kings 19:10 Romans 11:3] that I fell upon my face [to wit through great amazement at Gods severe vengeance and through compassion towards the people that were in slain compare Genes 17 on vers 3]and cried and said ah! Lord LORD wilt thou destroy all remnant of Israel [that is of Juda and of Benjamin and those that are of other tribes might be mingled among them see 2chron 21.2 and the annotate]in pouring out thy wrath upon Jerusalem ?

9. Then said unto me the iniquity of the house of Israel and Juda is exceeding great compare Genes 17.6, 20 below chap 16.13 and the land is filled with bloud [Heb blouds that is slaughters ,murders see Genes 4 on vers 10 and 1 Kings on vers 33] and the city is full of back-sliding [or perverseness ,or revolting ,or wresting of judgment]for they say the Lord hath forsaken the land and the Lord seeth not [see above chap 8 on vers 12]

10. Therefore as for me mine eye shall not pity neither will I spare he speaketh in the future tense because that was related before was not early done but only in a vision which in the prophets spirit was a representation and prediction of that which should actually done in its due time ] I will give their head [that is punish them as they have deserved by all their wicked deeds seee 1 Kings on ers 32 andabove chap 7 on vers 3 .]

11. And behold the men that was clothed with linen on whose lions the ink-horn was brought word again saying I have done according as thou hast commanded me [compare Psal 40.9 Job 4.34 and 5.30 and 6.38 and 17.4 others according to all that.]