Ezekiel 9

Ezekiel 9:2

And, behold, six men came from the way of the higher gate, which lieth toward the north, and every man a slaughter weapon in his hand; and one man among them was clothed with linen, with a writer’s inkhorn by his side.

And, behold, there appeared six men, according to the number of the six principal gates of Jerusalem, in representation of so many destroying angels, which came from the way of the north, which lieth towards Chaldea; and every man had a weapon of slaughter in his hand: and there was one amongst them resembling the Son of God, the gracious Mediator betwixt God and man; which was clothed with linen, to signify his everlasting priesthood; with a writer’s inkhorn by his side, for the resemblance of his eternal consignation of his elect, and his careful marking them out for their preservation.

Ezekiel 9:3

And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon he was, to the threshold of the house.

And the glorious God of Israel, who had wont to have his seat betwixt the cherubims which covered the ark, went up from thence; to shew them, that he meant to remove away from Israel; and yet, not all at once, but by degrees, and therefore he removed first only to the threshold of the temple.

Ezekiel 9:4

Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.

Go through all the streets of Jerusalem, and set a note or mark of distinction upon all those, that sigh and mourn for all the abominations that are done therein; that those men may be mercifully reserved from the common destruction.

Ezekiel 9:7

And he said unto them, Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain: go ye forth. And they went forth, and slew in the city.

And he said unto him, Since my house hath been so shamefully defiled by idolatries, do not ye spare to defile it, together with the courts there, with the blood and the carcasses of the slain.

Ezekiel 9:8

And it came to pass, while they were sloying them, and I was left, that I fell upon my face, and cried, and said, Ah Lord God, &c.

And it came to pass, while, in this vision of mine, they were VOL. III. K K slaying them, and I was left, beholding this slaughter, that I fell upon my face, in an humble depreciation of further vengeance.