The Six Executioners and the Man in Linen
Study note
God called for six angelic beings carrying deadly weapons. Among them was a man dressed in linen, a priestly garment, carrying a writing kit. God's glory had moved from its place above the cherubim to the doorway of the temple. The man in linen was told to go through Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of everyone who was grieving over the city's sins. This mark would protect them from the coming judgment, similar to how the blood on the doorposts protected Israelites during the Exodus.
1 Then God shouted right next to me at the top of his voice, "Bring the city's executioners here! Each one must carry his weapon of destruction!" He cried also in mine ears with a loud voice, saying, Cause them that have charge over the city to draw near, even every man with his destroying weapon in his hand.
2 Six men appeared from the direction of the upper north gate. Each gripped a deadly weapon. With them was a man wearing white linen clothes with a scribe's writing kit at his waist. They all walked in and positioned themselves beside the bronze altar. 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 they went in, and stood beside the brasen altar.
3 Then the glory of Israel's God rose from its place above the cherubim and moved over to the temple doorway. God called out to the man in linen who carried the writing kit. And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon he was, to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed with linen, which had the writer's inkhorn by his side;
4 The Lord told him this. "Walk through Jerusalem's streets. Mark the foreheads of all who grieve. Mark those who are heartbroken over the evil done in the city." And the LORD said unto him, 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.
Judgment Begins at the Temple
Study note
The six warriors were told to follow the man in linen through the city and kill everyone who did not have the mark. They were told to start at God's own temple, beginning with the elders who were worshipping idols there. The principle that judgment begins at God's house is repeated later in the New Testament. No one would be spared based on age or gender, only based on whether they had the mark.
5 Then I heard God tell the other six, "Follow him through the city and start executing people. Show no mercy." And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity:
6 "Strike down the elderly, the young men and women, mothers and children -- kill them all. But do not lay a finger on anyone who bears the mark. Start right here at my temple." They began with the elders standing in front of the temple. Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house.
7 God told them, "Defile the temple by filling its courtyards with corpses. Go!" They went out and began slaughtering people all through the city. 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.
Ezekiel's Cry and God's Answer
Study note
As the killing began, Ezekiel fell face-down and cried out to God, asking if he would destroy all of Israel. God responded that the sin of Israel and Judah was extremely great. The people had filled the land with bloodshed and injustice, saying God did not see and had abandoned the earth. God would not show pity but would bring their actions back on their own heads. The man in linen then returned and reported that the job was done.
8 While they carried out the killing, I found myself alone. I threw myself on the ground face-first and screamed, "Lord God! Are you truly going to wipe out every last Israelite as you pour out your rage on Jerusalem?" And it came to pass, while they were slaying them, and I was left, that I fell upon my face, and cried, and said, Ah Lord GOD! wilt thou destroy all the residue of Israel in thy pouring out of thy fury upon Jerusalem?
9 He replied, "The guilt of Israel and Judah is enormous. The land is soaked with bloodshed, and the city is overflowing with corruption. They keep saying, 'The Lord has abandoned this land. The Lord does not see anything we do.'" Then said he unto me, The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceeding great, and the land is full of blood, and the city full of perverseness: for they say, The LORD hath forsaken the earth, and the LORD seeth not.
10 "So I will not look on them with pity, and I will not hold back. Everything they have done will come crashing down on their own heads." And as for me also, mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity, but I will recompense their way upon their head.
11 Then the man in linen with the writing kit came back and said, "I have done everything you told me to do." And, behold, the man clothed with linen, which had the inkhorn by his side, reported the matter, saying, I have done as thou hast commanded me.