Yechezkel 7:23

23 Make a chain; for ha’aretz is full of mishpat damim, and the ir is full of chamas.

Yechezkel 7:23 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 7:23

Make a chain
To bind them; not the robbers, the Chaldeans, but the Jews; in order either to bring them to the bar to be tried for capital crimes hereafter mentioned, or to be led bound in chains into captivity; see ( Nehemiah 3:10 ) ; for the land is full of bloody crimes;
or, "judgment of bloods" ^F13; capital crimes, such as are deserving of death, particularly murder, or shedding of innocent blood; so the Targum interprets it of sins of murder: and the city is full of violence;
rapine, oppression, and injury done to the poor, the widow, and the fatherless; meaning the city of Jerusalem, where was the great court of judicature, and where justice ought to have been administered.

---

FOOTNOTES:

F13 (Mymd jpvm) "judicio sanguiuum", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus, Calvin, Polanus, Starckius; "criminibus capitalibus", Piscator; "sanguianariis judiciis", Castalio.

Yechezkel 7:23 In-Context

21 And I will give it into the hands of the zarim (strangers) for plunder, and to the resha’im of ha’aretz for loot; and they shall defile it.

22 My face will I turn also from them, and they shall desecrate My treasure; for the robbers shall enter into it [i.e., Yerushalayim], and defile it.

23 Make a chain; for ha’aretz is full of mishpat damim, and the ir is full of chamas.

24 Therefore I will bring the worst of the Goyim, and they shall possess their batim (houses); I will also make the ga’on (pride) of the mighty to cease; and their mikdashim (holy places) shall be defiled.

25 Terror cometh; and they shall seek shalom, and there shall be none.