Ezekiel 5:2

2 When the days of the siege are over, take one-third of the hair and burn it inside the city. Take another third, chop it into bits with the sword and sprinkle it around the city. The final third you'll throw to the wind. Then I'll go after them with a sword.

Ezekiel 5:2 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 5:2

Thou, shall burn with fire a third part in the midst of the
city
Of Jerusalem, as portrayed upon the tile, ( Ezekiel 4:1 ) ; or the prophet was now in Chaldea. The burning of the third part of the hair with fire denotes such who were destroyed by the pestilence and famine during the siege; see ( Lamentations 5:10 ) ; or it denotes the burning of the city itself, when the siege was over; since it follows: when the days of the siege are fulfilled;
for, when it was taken, it was burnt with fire, ( Jeremiah 52:13 ) ; and thou shall take a third part, [and] smite about it with a knife;
which designs those that fled out of the city whim it was broken up, and were pursued after, and overtook by the Chaldean army, and cut off by the sword, ( Jeremiah 52:7 Jeremiah 52:8 ) ; and a third part thou shall scatter in the wind;
which intends those that fled, and were dispersed into several countries, as Moab, Ammon, and especially Egypt, whither many went along with Johanan the son of Kareah, ( Jeremiah 43:5-7 ) ; and I will draw out a sword after them;
and destroy them; which, as it was threatened, ( Jeremiah 42:16 ) ( 44:27 ) ; so it was accomplished when Egypt was subdued by Nebuchadnezzar. The Septuagint and Arabic versions, in every clause, read a "fourth part", instead of a "third"; but wrongly.

Ezekiel 5:2 In-Context

1 "Now, son of man, take a sharp sword and use it as a straight razor, shaving your head and your beard. Then, using a set of balancing scales, divide the hair into thirds.

2 When the days of the siege are over, take one-third of the hair and burn it inside the city. Take another third, chop it into bits with the sword and sprinkle it around the city. The final third you'll throw to the wind. Then I'll go after them with a sword.

3 "Retrieve a few of the hairs and slip them into your pocket.

4 Take some of them and throw them into the fire - burn them up. From them, fire will spread to the whole family of Israel.

5 "This is what God, the Master, says: This means Jerusalem. I set her at the center of the world, all the nations ranged around her.