Ezekiel 21:12

12 Cry and howl, son of man; for it shall be against my people, it shall be against all the princes of Israel: they are given up to the sword along with my people: smite therefore upon the thigh.

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 is sharpened for sore slaughter, it is furbished that it may glitter. Shall we then make mirth, [saying,] The sceptre of my son contemneth all wood?

11 And he hath given it to be furbished that it may be handled. The sword, -- it is sharpened, and it is furbished to give it into the hand of the slayer.

12 Cry and howl, son of man; for it shall be against my people, it shall be against all the princes of Israel: they are given up to the sword along with my people: smite therefore upon the thigh.

13 For the trial [is made]; and what if even the contemning sceptre shall be no [more]? saith the Lord Jehovah.

14 And thou, son of man, prophesy, and smite thy hands together; for [the strokes of] the sword shall be doubled the third time: it is the sword of the slain, the sword that hath slain the great one, which encompasseth them privily.