The Execution of Jerusalem's Wicked and the Marked Few
Ezekiel 9:1-11
1He called into my ear with a loud voice, saying, Bring the punishments of the city, each man with his instrument of destruction in his hand.2And behold, six men were coming from the direction of the upper gate that faces north, each man with his shattering instrument in his hand, and one man among them clothed in linen with the writing case of the scribe at his waist; they came and stood beside the bronze altar.3The glory of the God of Israel rose from above the cherub on which it was and moved to the threshold of the house; he called to the man clothed in linen who had the writing case of the scribe at his waist.4The LORD said to him, "Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations that are done in its midst."5To these he said in my hearing, Go through the city after him and strike; do not let your eye have pity and do not spare.6Kill old and young, virgin and child and women, to destruction, but do not approach anyone on whom the mark is; begin at my sanctuary. So they began with the elders who were before the house.7He said to them, Defile the house and fill the courts with the slain; go out. They went out and struck in the city.8When they had struck, I alone remained; I fell on my face, cried out, and said, Alas, Lord GOD, will you destroy the entire remnant of Israel by pouring out your wrath on Jerusalem.9He said to me, The iniquity of the house of Israel and of Judah is exceedingly great; the land is full of blood and the city is full of perversion, because they say, The LORD has abandoned the land and the LORD does not see.10Therefore I also will not spare; my eye will not pity. I have brought their way upon their heads.11Then the man clothed in linen who had the writing case at his waist returned and reported, I have done according to all that you commanded me.