Ezekiel 26:9

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Ezekiel 26:9 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And he shall set his battering engines against thy walls, and with his axes he shall break down thy towers.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And he shall set his battering engines against thy walls, and with his axes he shall break down thy towers.
Ezekiel 26:9 — American Standard Version

Context — Ezekiel 26

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
9And he shall set his battering engines against thy walls, and with his axes he shall break down thy towers.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And he shall set engines of war against thy walls, &c.] Which some Jewish writers understand of crossbows, out of which stones or arrows were cast; but rather, according to Kimchi and Jarchi, they were warlike machines, invented to throw large stones against the walls of a place, to beat them down. Some think they were the same with the battering rams, used in sieges for the demolishing of walls; which was a late invention of those times, Ezekiel being the first writer, it is said, that makes mention of them: and with his axes he shall break down thy towers; the word here used signifies anything made of iron, as swords, spears, hammers, and axes; the latter, being more proper to demolish…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“engines of war--literally, "an apparatus for striking." "He shall apply the stroke of the battering-ram against thy walls." HAVERNICK translates, "His enginery of destruction"; literally, the "destruction (not merely the stroke) of his enginery." axes--literally, "swords."”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The description of the siege is that of a town invested by land. Ezekiel 26:7 Nebuchadrezzar - Jeremiah 21:2 note. Ezekiel 26:8 Lift up the buckler - i. e., set a wall of shields, under cover of which the walls could be approached. Ezekiel 26:9 Engines of war - Or, his battering ram. “axes” swords. They who would break flown the towers, rush on with their swords to slay the defenders. Ezekiel 26:11 Garrisons - pillars, on which stood statues of some protecting god. Compare 2 Kings 10:26. Ezekiel 26:14 The siege had been on land, but the victory was to be completed by the subjection of the island-citadel. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Ch2 26:15 Ezekiel 26:10”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification