Ezekiel 21:12

12 Give loud cries and make sounds of grief, O son of man: for it has come on my people, it has come on all the rulers of Israel: fear of the sword has come on my people: for this cause give signs of grief.

Ezekiel 21:12 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 21:12

Cry, howl, son of man
Not only sigh, but cry; and not cry only, but howl; signifying hereby that this would be the case of the Jews when these calamities should come upon them; and, in order to affect them with them before hand, the prophet is ordered to act such a part, as well as to express his sympathy with them: for it shall be upon my people;
that is, the sword, or the calamity signified by it; this should be not upon other nations, but upon the Lord's own people; such who professed themselves to be his people, and whom he had distinguished from all others; this is said, to affect the prophet the more, they being both the Lord's people, and his also: and it shall be upon all the princes of Israel;
who were slain in Riblah by the king of Babylon, ( Jeremiah 52:10 ) , the sword spared neither people nor princes. Terrors, by reason of the sword, shall be upon my people;
upon the rumour of the invasion, and when besieged in the city, and when attempting to make their escape by flight: or "my people are fallen by the sword" ^F21, as some: smite therefore upon thy thigh;
as one grieved in spirit, in great distress and anguish; see ( Jeremiah 31:19 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F21 So R. Sol Urbin. Ohel Moed, fol. 59. 1.

Ezekiel 21:12 In-Context

10 It has been made sharp to give death; it is polished so that it may be like a thunder-flame: ...

11 And I have given it to the polisher so that it may be taken in the hand: he has made the sword sharp, he has had it polished, to put it into the hand of him who gives death.

12 Give loud cries and make sounds of grief, O son of man: for it has come on my people, it has come on all the rulers of Israel: fear of the sword has come on my people: for this cause give signs of grief.

13 ...

14 So then, son of man, be a prophet, and put your hands together with a loud sound, and give two blows with the sword, and even three; it is the sword of those who are wounded, even the sword of the wounded; the great sword which goes round about them.