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John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 9:2

Verse 2 Now the Prophet writes that God’s command was not vain or empty, because the effect appears directly by vision. Therefore six men offered themselves. Why again he names six, rather than more or fewer, I have not found out. For some cite the thirty-ninth chapter of Jeremiah, where eight leaders are referred to who were in Nebuchadnezzar’s army, and had the chief authority; but first they vary in number, then they twist themselves in many ways. But I am not so anxiously curious, nor does... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 9:3

Verse 3 Now the Prophet shows why the angel was added to the Chaldeans, namely, to put a bridle on them, lest they should rage promiscuously and without selection against the elect and the reprobate. This is a remarkable passage, because from it we learn, first, that God effectually threatens the impious, so that he may have attendants always at hand to obey him; then, that even unbelievers make war under the direction of God, and are governed by his rod, and do nothing except at his will. Nor... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 9:1

He cried, etc. The voice comes, as before, from the human form, seen as a theophany, in the midst of the Divine glory. Cause them that have charge over the city. The noun is an abstract plural, commonly rendered "visitation" ( Isaiah 10:3 ; Jeremiah 11:23 , and elsewhere). Here, however, it clearly stands for persons (just as we use "the watch" for "the watchmen"), and is so used in Isaiah 60:17 ; 2 Kings 11:18 (comp. Ezekiel 44:11 ). The persons addressed are called "men,"... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 9:1-7

The hour of judgment. As among men there are magistrates' sessions as well as the great assizes, so also God has seasons for the local administration of justice, as well as the final judgment. In fact, God is always upon his judicial seat, always meting out justice to the various orders of his creatures. If he ceased to judge, he would cease to rule. I. MARK THE SUPREMACY OF GOD 'S JUDICIAL VOICE . The last chapter finished with the declaration, "Though they cry in mine... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 9:1-7

Divine discrimination in the execution of judgment. "He cried also in mine ears with a loud voice, saying, Cause them that have charge over the city to draw near," etc. In the preceding chapter the various forms of idolatry which were practised in Jerusalem, and by which the Lord Jehovah was provoked, were set forth; and now Ezekiel beholds in vision the treatment which God was about to deal out to the people by reason of their provocations. We observe— I. THAT THE AGENTS OF ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 9:2

Behold, six men , etc. The man clothed with linen brings the number up to the sacred number seven, as in Zechariah 4:10 ; Revelation 1:16 , Revelation 1:20 ; Revelation 15:6 . He is over them rather than among them, and answers to the scribe who appears so frequently in Assyrian sculptures, as the secretary who counts the prisoners that have been taken in battle. They come from the north, the region from which the vision of Ezekiel 1:4 had come, in which, in the nearer vision of ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 9:2

A writer's inkhorn. Here was a singular contrast. When Jerusalem was about to be given over to slaughter, six armed men went forth for the work of destruction, their accoutrements and military bearing quite in harmony with the dread circumstances of the day; but accompanied by a most incongruous companion, a civilian, one of the city clerks, perhaps, with no better ammunition than an inkhorn. When, however, the work of this man of ink is apparent, his function is seen to be of supreme... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 9:3

Was gone up; better, went up. The prophet saw the process as well as the result. The "glory of the Lord" which he bad seen ( Ezekiel 8:4 ) by the northern gate rose from its cherub throne (we note the use of the singular to express the unity of the fourfold form), as if to direct the action of his ministers, to the threshold of the "house." This may be connected also with the thought that the normal abiding place of the presence of the Lord had been "between the cherubim" ( Psalms 80:1 ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 9:4

Set a mark upon the foreheads, etc. The command reminds us of that given to the destroying angel in Exodus 12:13 , and has its earlier and later analogues in the mark set upon Cain ( Genesis 4:15 ), and in the "sealing" of the servants of God in Revelation 7:3 . Here, as in the last example, the mark is set, not on the lintels of the doorposts, but upon the "foreheads" of the men. And the mark is the letter tau , in old Hebrew, that of a cross + , and like the "mark" of mediaeval and... read more

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