Ezekiel 9

Vision of Slaughter in Jerusalem

1 Then he called loudly in my hearing, "Come near, executioners of the city, each of you with a destructive weapon in his hand." 2 And I saw six men coming from the direction of the Upper Gate,  * 9:2 2Kg 15:35; Jr 20:2 which faces north, each with a war club in his hand. There was another man among them, clothed in linen,  * 9:2 Lv 16:4 carrying writing equipment. They came and stood beside the bronze altar.

3 Then the glory of the God of Israel  * 9:3 Ezk 10:4,18; 11:22–23 rose from above the cherub where it had been, to the threshold of the temple. He called to the man clothed in linen and carrying writing equipment. 4 "Pass throughout the city of Jerusalem," the Lord said to him, "and put a mark on the foreheads  * 9:4 Rv 7:2–3; 9:4; 14:1 of the men who sigh and groan  * 9:4 Ps 119:53,136; Jr 13:17 over all the detestable practices committed in it."

5 He spoke to the others in my hearing: "Pass through the city after him and start killing; do not show pity or spare them!  * 9:5 Ezk 5:116 Slaughter the old men, the young men and women, as well as the children and older women,  * 9:6 2Ch 36:17 but do not come near anyone who has the mark.  * 9:6 Rv 9:4 Begin at my sanctuary."  * 9:6 Jr 25:29 So they began with the elders who were in front of the temple. 7 Then he said to them, "Defile the temple and fill the courts with the slain.  * 9:7 Ezk 7:20–22 Go! " So they went out killing people in the city.

8 While they were killing, I was left alone. And I fell facedown and cried out, "Oh, Lord God!  * 9:8 Ezk 11:13 Are you going to destroy the entire remnant of Israel when you pour out your wrath on Jerusalem? "

9 He answered me, "The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is extremely great; the land is full of bloodshed,  * 9:9 2Kg 21:16 and the city full of perversity. For they say, ‘The Lord has abandoned the land;  * 9:9 Ezk 8:12 he does not see.’  * 9:9 Is 29:1510 But as for me, I will not show pity or spare them.  * 9:10 Ezk 5:11; 7:4; 8:18 I will bring their conduct down on their own heads."  * 9:10 Ezk 11:21

11 Then the man clothed in linen and carrying writing equipment reported back, "I have done all that you commanded me."