Ezekiel 9
1He
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.
2And,
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.
3And 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;
4And
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.
5And 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:
6Slay
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.
7And 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.
8And 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?
9Then 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.
10And as for me also,
mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity, but I will recompense their way upon their head.
11And, 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.
vision denoting the destruction of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the departure of the symbol of the Divine presence.
