9:1 He cried also in my ears with a loud voice, saying, Cause
them that have charge over a the city to draw near, even
every man [with] his destroying weapon in his hand.
(a) The time to take vengeance.
9:2 And, behold, six b men came from the way of the higher
gate, which lieth toward the c north, and every man a
slaughter weapon in his hand; and one man among them [was]
clothed with linen, with a writer's d inkhorn by his side:
and they went in, and stood beside the brasen altar.
(b) Which were angels in the appearance of men.
(c) Signifying that the Babylonians would come from the
north to destroy the city and the temple.
(d) To mark them that would be saved.
9:3 And the glory of the God of Israel had e gone up from the
cherub, on which he was, to the threshold of the house. And
he called to the man clothed with linen, who [had] the
writer's inkhorn by his side;
(e) Which declared that he was not bound to it, neither
would remain any longer than there was hope that they
would return from their wickedness and worship him
correctly.
9:4 And the LORD said to him, Go through the midst of the city,
through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the
foreheads of the men that f sigh and that cry for all the
abominations that are done in the midst of it.
(f) He shows what is the manner of God's children, whom he
marks for salvation: that is, to mourn and cry out
against the wickedness which they see committed against
God's glory.
9:6 Slay utterly old [and] young, both maids, and little
children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom
[is] the g mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they
began at the h elders who [were] before the house.
(g) Thus in all his plagues the Lord preserves his small
number, which he marks as in (Ex 12:12, Re 7:3) but
the chief mark is the spirit of adoption, with which the
heart is sealed up to life everlasting.
(h) Which was the chief opportunity for all these evils, as
in (Eze 8:11).
9:8 And it came to pass, while they were slaying them, and I was
left, that I fell upon my face, and cried, and said, i Ah
Lord GOD! wilt thou destroy the whole remnant of Israel in
thy pouring out of thy fury upon Jerusalem?
(i) This declares that the servants of God have a compassion
when they see his judgments executed.
9:9 Then said he to me, The iniquity of the house of Israel and
Judah [is] exceeding great, and the land is full of k
blood, and the city full of perverseness: for they say, The
LORD hath forsaken the earth, and the LORD seeth not.
(k) That is, with all kinds of wickedness.
)See Geneva "Isa 1:15")
