The Skeptics Annotated Bible (626 page)

16 And he brought me into the inner court of the LORD’S house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, were about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the LORD, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east.

17 Then he said unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? Is it a light thing to the house of Judah that they commit the abominations which they commit here? for they have filled the land with violence, and have returned to provoke me to anger: and, lo, they put the branch to their nose.

18 Therefore will I also deal in fury:
mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: and though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice, yet will I not hear them
.

(8.18)
“Mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: and though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice, yet will I not hear them.”
God promises again to slaughter everyone. He says that he will ignore them when they plead with him for mercy.
322 Will those who call on the Lord be delivered?

(9.1-2) God screams in Ezekiel’s ears, telling him to round up the six men that are going to do God’s dirty work.

9
He cried also in mine ears with a loud voice, saying, Cause them that have charge over the city to draw near, even every man with his destroying weapon in his hand.

(9.1)
“He cried also in mine ears with a loud voice, saying, Cause them that have charge over the city to draw near, even every man with his destroying weapon in his hand.”

2
And, behold, six men came
from the way of the higher gate, which lieth toward the north,
and every man a slaughter weapon in his hand
; and one man among them was clothed with linen, with a writer’s inkhorn by his side: and they went in, and stood beside the brasen altar.

(9.2)
“And, behold, six men came … and every man a slaughter weapon in his hand.”

3 And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon he was, to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed with linen, which had the writer’s inkhorn by his side;

(9.4-11) God sends a “man clothed with linen” to mark the foreheads of the men who will be saved. Apparently only men are considered good enough to keep, the others (unmarked men, “maids”, and little children) are to be slaughtered. God says he’ll “fill the courts with the slain” and will have pity on no one.
120 Is God merciful?

4 And
the LORD said unto him, Go through
the midst of the city, through the midst of
Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations
that be done in the midst thereof.

(9.4)
“The LORD said unto him, Go through … Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations.”

5 And
to the others he said
in mine hearing,
Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity
:

(9.5)
“To the others he said … Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity.”

6
Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women
: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house.

(9.6)
“Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women.”

7 And he said unto them, Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain: go ye forth. And they went forth, and slew in the city.

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, Ah Lord GOD! wilt thou destroy all the residue of Israel in thy pouring out of thy fury upon Jerusalem?

(9.8)
“While they were slaying them … I fell on my face.”