Ezekiel 5:1-4

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezekiel 5:1-4

We have here the sign by which the utter destruction of Jerusalem is set forth; and here, as before, the prophet is himself the sign, that the people might see how much he affected himself with, and interested himself in, the case of Jerusalem, and how it lay to his heart, even when he foretold the desolations of it. He was so much concerned about it as to take what was done to it as done to himself, so far was he from desiring the woeful day. I. He must shave off the hair of his head and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 5:1

And thou, son of man, take thee a sharp knife ,.... Or, "sword" F13 חרב "gladium", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus, Junius & Tremellius, Polanus, Starckius. . The word signifies any sharp instrument, by which anything is cut off, or cut asunder; what is here meant is explained by the following: take thee a barber's razor . The Septuagint and Arabic versions read this in conjunction with the former, thus, "take thee a knife", or "sword, sharper than a barber's razor"; and so the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 5:2

Thou, shall burn with fire a third part in the midst of the city ,.... Of Jerusalem, as portrayed upon the tile, Ezekiel 4:1 ; or the prophet was now in Chaldea. The burning of the third part of the hair with fire denotes such who were destroyed by the pestilence and famine during the siege; see Lamentations 5:10 ; or it denotes the burning of the city itself, when the siege was over; since it follows: when the days of the siege are fulfilled ; for, when it was taken, it was burnt... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 5:3

Thou shall also take thereof a few in number ,.... These are they that were left in the land of Judea by Nebuzaradan, for vinedressers and husbandmen, and such as returned out of Egypt into the land of Judah, Jeremiah 44:28 ; and bind them in thy skirts ; in the pockets of them; signifying both the very small number of them, and their preservation. Jarchi and Kimchi interpret these of those that were carried captive to Babylon, and lived there, and were preserved, and returned again. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 5:4

Then take of them again ,.... Of that small number preserved: and cast them into the midst of the fire, and burn them in the fire : this was fulfilled in Gedaliah and the Jews that were with him, over whom the king of Babylon had made him governor, who were slain by Ishmael, Jeremiah 41:1 ; for thereof shall a fire come forth into all the house of Israel ; from this barbarous murder of Gedaliah and his men, judgment came upon all the house of Israel; a war commenced between... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 5:1-4

Take thee a sharp knife - Among the Israelites, and indeed among most ancient nations, there were very few edge-tools. The sword was the chief; and this was used as a knife, a razor, etc., according to its different length and sharpness. It is likely that only one kind of instrument is here intended; a knife or short sword, to be employed as a razor. Here is a new emblem produced, in order to mark out the coming evils. The prophet represents the Jewish nation. His hair, the people. ... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 5:1

Verse 1 By another vision God confirms what he had lately taught concerning the siege of Jerusalem. For he orders the Prophet to shave the hairs off his head and his beard, then to distribute them into three parts, and to weigh them in a balance. He mentions a just balance, that equity may be preserved, and that one portion may not surpass another. There is no doubt that by the hairs he understands the inhabitants of Jerusalem, as by the head he understands the seat itself of their... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 5:3

Verse 3 It is now added: Thou shalt take then a small number, and bind them, (that is, that number, but the number is changed,) viz., those hairs of which the number is small in the skirts of thy clothing It either takes away the confidence which might spring up from a temporary escape, or else it signifies that very few should be safe in the midst of the destruction of the whole people, which came to pass wonderfully. If that is received, the correction is added, that God would give some hope... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 5:4

Verse 4 We just saw that there were many reprobate in that small number. Hence, therefore, it is easily gathered how desperate was the impiety of the whole people. After this, he says, take: this adverb is used that those who survived after the slaughter of the city should not think that all their punishments were over: after this, says he, that is, when they shall fancy all their difficulties over, thou shalt take from that part which thou hast preserved, and shalt cast it into the fire.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 5:1

Take thee a barber's razor, etc. The series of symbolic acts is carried further. Recollections of Isaiah and Leviticus mingle strangely in the prophet's mind. The former had made the "razor" the symbol of the devastation wrought by an invading army ( Isaiah 7:20 ). The latter had forbidden its use for the head and beard of the priests (Le Leviticus 19:27 ; Leviticus 21:5 ). Once again Ezekiel is commanded to do a forbidden thing as a symbolic act. He is, for the moment, the... read more

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