1 Then he cried in my ears with a loud voice, saying, "Bring near the executioners of the city, *[ch. 43:3]each with his destroying weapon in his hand." 2 And behold, six men came from the direction of *2 Kgs. 15:35;Jer. 20:2the upper gate, which faces north, each with his weapon for slaughter in his hand, and with them was *ch. 10:2,6,7;Dan. 10:5;12:6,7a man clothed in linen, with a writing case at his waist. And they went in and stood beside *[ch. 8:16]the bronze altar.

3 Now *See ch. 1:28the glory of the God of Israel had gone up from the cherub on which it rested to *ch. 10:4,18;46:2;47:1the threshold of the house. And he called to *[See ver. 2above]the man clothed in linen, who had the writing case at his waist. 4 And the Lord said to him, "Pass through the city, through Jerusalem, and *Rev. 3:12;7:3;9:4;14:1;22:4;[Ex. 12:7;Rev. 13:16,17;14:9;20:4] put a mark on the foreheads of the men who *[Ps. 119:53,136,158]sigh and groan over all the abominations that are committed in it." 5 And to *[ver. 2] the others he said in my hearing, "Pass through the city after him, and strike. *See ch. 5:11Your eye shall not spare, and you shall show no pity. 6 *[2 Chr. 36:17] Kill old men outright, young men and maidens, little children and women, but *[Rev. 9:4] touch no one on whom is the mark. And *See Jer. 25:29begin at my sanctuary." So they began with the elders who were before the house. 7 Then he said to them, *ch. 7:21,22"Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain. Go out." So they went out and struck in the city. 8 And while they were striking, and I was left alone, *ch. 11:13;[Num. 14:5] I fell upon my face, and cried, *See ch. 4:14"Ah, Lord God! *ch. 11:13Will you destroy all the remnant of Israel *See ch. 7:8in the outpouring of your wrath on Jerusalem?"

9 Then he said to me, *See 2 Chr. 36:14-16"The guilt of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great. *See ch. 7:23The land is full of blood, and the city full of injustice. For *See ch. 8:12they say, ‘The Lord has forsaken the land, and the Lord does not see.’ 10 As for me, *See ch. 5:11my eye will not spare, nor will I have pity; *See ch. 7:4I will bring their deeds upon their heads."

11 And behold, *ch. 10:2,6,7;Dan. 10:5;12:6,7the man clothed in linen, with the writing case at his waist, brought back word, saying, "I have done as you commanded me."