Ezekiel 5:16 - Exposition

The evil arrows of famine, etc. The thought of the "arrows" of God's judgment may have been taken from Deuteronomy 32:23 , Deuteronomy 32:42 , and occurs frequently also in the Psalms ( Psalms 7:13 ; Psalms 38:2 , et al. ) . Clothed in the language of poetry, the attributes of Jehovah included those of the Far-darter of the Greeks. Which shall be for their destruction, etc.; better, as Revised Version, that are for destruction. Ewald looks on the noun as a personification, like Abaddon, also translated "destruction" in Job 28:22 and Proverbs 15:11 , and renders the words, "that are from hell;" but there seems no special reason for assuming such a meaning here. It is noticable that, as in the symbolism of Ezekiel 4:9-17 , the laminae is more prominent in Ezekiel's thoughts than the other punishments.