Terrors by reason of the sword; better, as in the Revised Version and margin of the Authorized Version, They (the princes of Judah, corresponding to the "rod" of Ezekiel 21:10 ) are delivered over to the sword with my people . At this stage, in contemplating the destruction alike of princes and of people, the prophet is bidden to make his gestures of lamentation yet more expressive, "crying, howling, smiting on his thigh" ( Jeremiah 31:19 ). read more
Because it is a trial, etc. The verse has received as many interpretations, and is just as obscure as Ezekiel 21:10 , with which it is obviously connected. I begin as before with that which seems most probable. read more
Smite thine hands together , etc. Another gesture follows, either of horror and lamentation, or perhaps, looking to Ezekiel 21:17 , of imperative command. The sword is to do its thrice-redoubled work (the words emphasize generally the intensity, and are scarcely to be taken numerically, of the repeated invasions of the Chaldeans); it is "the sword of the slain" (better, pierced ones , or, with Revised Version, the deadly wounded ). The next clause should be taken, with the Revised... read more
For their ruins shall be multiplied , read, with the Revised Version, that their stumblings ; and for wrapped up , pointed, or sharpened . read more
Go thee one way or another, etc .; i . e . as in the following, to the right hand or the left— to the north or the south. Whichever way the prophet turned ( Ezekiel 20:47 ), he would see nothing but the sword and its work of slaughter. Jehovah had given that command with the gesture of supreme authority. He would not rest till he had appeased his wrath by letting it work itself out even to the end. With these words the "Lay of the Sword of Jehovah" ends, and there is again an... read more
The satisfaction of God's fury. This is a most awful subject. Gladly would we leave it alone. Oh for a fresh sight of God's eternal love, instead of this horror of great darkness, this vision of wrath and judgment unrestrained and fully satisfied! Yet the fearful words are before us and they invite our earnest regard. I. GOD 'S FURY IS FEARFULLY PROVOKED BY SIN . It is only against sinners that these dreadful words are written. The righteous may share the temporal... read more
The new section opens in a different strain. Ezekiel sees, as in vision, Nebuchadnezzar and his army on their march. He is told to appoint a place where the road bifurcated. Both come from one land, i . e . from Babylon; but from that point onwards one road led to Rabbath, the capital of the Ammonites ( Deuteronomy 3:11 ; 2 Samuel 11:1 ), the other to Jerusalem. Apparently, the exiles and the people of Judah flattered themselves that the former was the object of the expedition. The... read more
The prophet was directed to let the people see him sighing and prostrate, as a sign of the sorrow and weakness about to come upon the people.The breaking of thy loins - The prostration of strength; the loins being the seat of strength. read more
The second word of judgment: the glittering and destroying sword. The passage may be called the “Lay of the Sword;” it is written in the form of Hebrew poetry, with its characteristic parallelism.Ezekiel 21:10It contemneth the rod of my son, as every tree - The rod is the scepter of dominion, assigned to Judah Genesis 49:10. The destroying sword of Babylon despises the scepter of Judah; it despises every tree. Others render the verse, “Shall we make mirth” (saying), “the rod of my son,” (the... read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 21:10
The sceptre of my son, etc. The clause is obscure, possibly corrupt, and has received many interpretations. read more