Ezekiel 5:2

2 At the end of the siege, burn one-third of it in the city. Strike another third with the sword left and right. Then scatter one-third to the wind and let loose the sword after it.

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 You, human one, take a sharp sword. Use it like a razor and shave your head and beard. Then use scales to divide the hair.

2 At the end of the siege, burn one-third of it in the city. Strike another third with the sword left and right. Then scatter one-third to the wind and let loose the sword after it.

3 From that third, take a few strands and hide them in your garment.

4 From that hair, take yet another batch and throw it into the fire and burn it up. From there, fire will spread to the whole house of Israel.

5 The LORD God proclaims: This is Jerusalem! I have set her in the middle of the nations and surrounding countries.

Footnotes

• [a] Or I will let loose