Ezekiel 5:9-12

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezekiel 5:5-17

We have here the explanation of the foregoing similitude: This is Jerusalem. Thus it is usual in scripture language to give the name of the thing signified to the sign; as when Christ said, This is my body. The prophet's head, which was to be shaved, signified Jerusalem, which by the judgments of God was now to be stripped of all its ornaments, to be emptied of all its inhabitants, and to be set naked and bare, to be shaved with a razor that is hired, Isa. 7:20. The head of one that was a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 5:9

And I will do in thee that which I have not done ,.... In any other nation, or to any other people; not in the old world, when the flood was brought upon the world of the ungodly; not in Sodom and Gomorrah, when they were destroyed by fire from heaven; not in Egypt, when he inflicted his plagues on Pharaoh and his people; nor among the Canaanites, when they were drove out of their land for their abominations: and whereunto I will not do any more the like ; at least not of a long time;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 5:10

Therefore the fathers shall eat the sons in the midst of thee ,.... Which was long ago threatened by the Lord, and prophesied of by Moses, Leviticus 26:27 ; and was fulfilled at several times in the people of Israel, as at the siege of Samaria, 2 Kings 6:28 ; at the siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, Lamentations 4:10 ; and at the siege of the same city by Titus Vespasian, as Josephus F23 De Bello Jud. l. 6. c. 3. sect. 4. Ed. Hudson. relates; for though these instances only... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 5:11

Wherefore, as I live, saith the Lord God ,.... This is a form of an oath, and shows that what is after said should certainly be done; God would not repent of it, nor revoke it: surely, because thou hast defiled my sanctuary, with all thy detestable things, and with all thine abominations : that is, with their idols and idolatrous worship, which were detestable and abominable to the Lord; so Manasseh not only built altars for Baal in the house of the Lord, but set up in it a graven... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 5:12

A third part of them shall die with the pestilence ,.... This, with what follows, explains the division of the hair into the three parts, and what was done with them; and shows that the burning of one third part denotes their being destroyed by the pestilence, mentioned along with burning coals, Habakkuk 3:5 ; and by famine, as follows: and with famine shall they be consumed in the midst of thee ; and though there is no account of the former, yet there is of the latter; and no doubt... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 5:9

I will do in thee that which I have not done - The destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar was one of the greatest calamities that ever fell on any nation or place before; and that by the Romans under Titus exceeded all that has taken place since. These two sackages of that city have no parallel in the history of mankind. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 5:10

The fathers shall eat the sons - Though we have not this fact so particularly stated in history, yet we cannot doubt of it, considering the extremities to which they were reduced during the siege. The same is referred to by Jeremiah, Lamentations 4:10 . Even the women, who were remarkable for kindness and humanity, boiled their own children, and ate them during the siege. Will I scatter into all the winds - Disperse you, by captivity, among all the nations of the earth. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 5:12

A third part of thee - See the note on Ezekiel 5:1-4 ; (note). read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 5:9

Verse 9 Now God subjoins, that their punishment should be so severe that no similar example could be found in the world — I will do what I have not done, nor intended to do, that is, I will avenge your contempt of my law in a striking and unexpected manner; for God sometimes so chastises men as not to exceed the ordinary method. But because punishments seem vile and contemptible when they are so common, God is compelled to surpass the ordinary measure, and to punish the wicked signally and... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 5:10

Verse 10 He says, then, fathers shall eat their sons in the midst of you, and this was certainly fulfilled: for Jeremiah speaks of women, but he comprehends men also. (Lamentations 4:10.) For he says that women are tender-hearted, he does not say mothers merely, but that they were humane beyond others; but we know that maternal affection is more tender. But when mothers and those tender ones devour their children, that was the final portent. Now he adds, I will execute, therefore, (for the... read more

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