Ezekiel 21:14-17

Ezekiel 21:14 ; Ezekiel 21:17. Prophesy, and smite thy hands together In token of amazement and sorrow. And let the sword be doubled the third time Bishop Newcome reads, Bring the sword twice; yea, bring it thrice; namely, that God's judgments might be fully executed, and his justice satisfied. It is probable that the three great slaughters which should be made of the inhabitants of Judea and Jerusalem are here intended, namely, 1st, During the siege, in which, undoubtedly, great numbers fell who were without the walls of the city, and many within: 2dly, When the city was taken by assault, which certainly was not without great slaughter: and 3dly, The massacre of Gedaliah, and those that sided with him. The sword of the slain Wherewith many shall be slain. It is the sword of the great men, &c. Appointed for the slaughter of the great men, namely, the princes, rulers, and captains; which entereth into their privy chambers Where they were hidden in hopes of escaping. I have set the point of the sword against all their gates I have gathered together the Chaldeans round about Jerusalem, with their swords sharpened and drawn at every gate, to meet and slay all that shall attempt to come out, or to slay all they find on entering the city. Ah! it is made bright Hebrew, עשׂויה לברק, is made like lightning. The same metaphor which occurs in Virgil:

“Vaginaque eripit, ensem fulmineum.” ÆN. 4. 50:579.

“He drew his sword, which did like lightning blaze.”

It is wrapped Or rather, It is sharpened for the slaughter. So Kimchius and some others translate מעשׂה, deriving the word from עשׂ, a style, or iron pen: see Buxtorf. Go thee one way or other God is here represented as speaking, by way of apostrophe, to the sword, and giving it an unlimited commission to destroy wherever it should be drawn. I will also smite my hands together In token of my approbation. I will animate and encourage the slayers to go on. And I will cause my fury to rest I will satisfy my anger by a full execution of my judgments.