Ezekiel 9

Ezekiel 9:1-11 . CONTINUATION OF THE PRECEDING VISION: THE SEALING OF THE FAITHFUL.

1. cried--contrasted with their "cry" for mercy ( Ezekiel 8:18 ) is the "cry" here for vengeance, showing how vain was the former.
them that have charge--literally, officers; so "officers" ( Isaiah 60:17 ), having the city in charge, not to guard, but to punish it. The angels who as "watchers" fulfil God's judgments ( Daniel 4:13 Daniel 4:17 Daniel 4:23 , Daniel 10:20 Daniel 10:21 ); the "princes" ( Jeremiah 39:3 ) of Nebuchadnezzar's army were under their guidance.
draw near--in the Hebrew intensive, "to draw near quickly."

2. clothed with linen--( Daniel 10:5 , Daniel 12:6 Daniel 12:7 ). His clothing marked his office as distinct from that of the six officers of vengeance; "linen" characterized the high priest ( Leviticus 16:4 ); emblematic of purity. The same garment is assigned to the angel of the Lord (for whom Michael is but another name) by the contemporary prophet Daniel ( Daniel 10:5 , Daniel 12:6 Daniel 12:7 ). Therefore the intercessory High Priest in heaven must be meant ( Zechariah 1:12 ). The six with Him are His subordinates; therefore He is said to be "among them," literally, "in the midst of them," as their recognized Lord ( Hebrews 1:6 ). He appears as a "man," implying His incarnation; as "one" (compare 1 Timothy 2:5 ). Salvation is peculiarly assigned to Him, and so He bears the "inkhorn" in order to "mark" His elect ( Ezekiel 9:4 ; compare Exodus 12:7 , Revelation 7:3 , 9:4 , Revelation 13:16 Revelation 13:17 , 20:4 ), and to write their names in His book of life ( Revelation 13:8 ). As Oriental scribes suspend their inkhorn at their side in the present day, and as a "scribe of the host is found in Assyrian inscriptions accompanying the host" to number the heads of the slain, so He stands ready for the work before Him. "The higher gate" was probably where now the gate of Damascus is. The six with Him make up the sacred and perfect number, seven ( Zechariah 3:9 , Revelation 5:6 ). The executors of judgment on the wicked, in Scripture teaching, are good, not bad, angels; the bad have permitted to them the trial of the pious ( Job 1:12 , 2 Corinthians 12:7 ). The judgment is executed by Him ( Ezekiel 10:2 Ezekiel 10:7 , John 5:22 John 5:27 ) through the six ( Matthew 13:41 , 25:31 ); so beautifully does the Old Testament harmonize with the New Testament. The seven come "from the way of the north"; for it was there the idolatries were seen, and from the same quarter must proceed the judgment (Babylon lying northeast of Judea). So Matthew 24:28 .
stood--the attitude of waiting reverently for Jehovah's commands.
brazen altar--the altar of burnt offerings, not the altar of incense, which was of gold. They "stood" there to imply reverent obedience; for there God gave His answers to prayer [CALVIN]; also as being about to slay victims to God's justice, they stand where sacrifices are usually slain [GROTIUS], ( Ezekiel 39:17 , Isaiah 34:6 ,