Tyndale Open Study NotesEzekiel 9

This section describes how the people defiled (made unclean by sin) the temple in Jerusalem (Ezekiel 8). Because of this sin, the Lord left the temple. After he left, the city and the temple were destroyed (9:1–11:13).

At first, this sounds like only bad news. But for those already living in exile, it was also good news. The Lord was not limited to the temple in Jerusalem. He would come to be with his people in exile.

By coming to dwell with them, the Lord showed that the exiles were not forgotten. They were the ones who carried hope for the future of God’s people.

The prophet did not have to wait long for judgment to come.

The Lord called his angelic warriors (heavenly messengers who carry out God’s commands) to punish the city. In response, seven men appeared.

Six of the men carried deadly weapons. The seventh man was dressed in linen (the clothing often worn by priests). He carried a writer’s case, a small box used to hold writing tools.

They stood ready in the temple courtyard. They were beside the bronze altar, where sacrifices were usually offered.

The glory of the God of Israel, which is the visible sign of his presence, started to leave the defiled temple. It first rose from between the cherubim, above the ark in the Most Holy Place, where it usually rested. Then, it moved to the temple entrance, preparing to leave its former throne.

The man dressed in linen (Ezekiel 9:2–3) marked those to be kept safe, similar to the first Passover (Exodus 12:7–13). Meanwhile, the angels of destruction carried out a complete judgment (Exodus 12:28–30). This time, they targeted everyone without the protective mark, including old and young, girls, women, and children. Unlike in Egypt, where only the firstborn males were affected, all who did not mourn over the city's sins were destroyed (compare Revelation 7:1–8).

Defile the temple: In the past, Queen Athaliah was dragged out of the temple before she was executed. This was done so that her blood would not defile (make unclean) the holy place (2 Kings 11:15–16).

Now the situation was different. These idolaters were to be killed inside the temple. Their idolatry had already defiled it so deeply that nothing sacred remained there.

Without God’s holy presence, the building was no longer truly holy. Protecting its outer purity would have been an empty act

Ezekiel feared he might be the only person left after the Lord showed his anger.

The Lord replied that he would fully repay Israel’s sins (see Ezekiel 9:3–4, 11).

I have done as You commanded: The remnant had been successfully marked to save them from the wrath to come (Ezekiel 9:3–4).