Page 45 - NOTES ON EZEKIEL

CHAPTERS IX., X. 39
But not content with beginning at the ancient men
who were before the house, the word to the avengers
was, “ Defile the house, and fill the courts with the
slain: go ye forth. And they went forth, and slew in
the city. And it came to pass, while they were slay­
ing them, and I was left, that I fell upon my face, and
cried, and said, Ah Lord Jehovah ! wilt thou destroy
all the residue of Israel in thy pouring out of thy fury
upon Jerusalem?” No room was left for intercession
to prevail. “ Then said he unto me, The iniquity of
the house of Israel and Judah is exceeding great, and
the land is full of blood, and the city full of perverse­
ness: for they say, Jehovah hath forsaken the earth,
and Jehovah seeth not. And as for me also, mine eye
shall not spare, neither will I have pity, but I will re­
compense their way upon their head.” (Yer. 9, 10.)
The awful scene is made more impressive still by the
report of the task completed. “ And, behold, the man
clothed with linen, which had the inkhorn by his side,
reported the matter, saying, I have done as thou hast
commanded me.” (Ver. 11.)

CHAPTER X.

The vision which follows completes the picture of
judgment begun in chapters viii., ix. While it recalls
that which the prophet first beheld among the captives
at Chebar, it has certain modifications which one might
expect from the fact that, as he sat with the elders of
Judah before him, he was brought by the Spirit in the