Ezekiel 5:2

“Thou, shall burn with fire a third part in the midst of the city, &c.] Of Jerusalem, as portrayed upon the tile, (<260401>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 <250510>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, (<245213>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…”

“Three classes are described. The sword was to destroy one third of the people; famine and plague another third ("fire" in Eze 5:2 being explained in Eze 5:12 to mean pestilence and famine); that which remained was to be scattered among the nations. A few only of the last portion were to escape, symbolized by the hairs bound in Ezekiel's skirts (Eze 5:3; Jer 40:6; Jer 52:16). Even of these some were to be thrown into the fiery ordeal again (Eze 5:4; Jer 41:1-2, &c.; Jer 44:14, &c.). The "skirts" being able to contain but few express that extreme limit to which God's goodness can reach.”

““The third part burnt in the midst of the city” represents those who perished within the city during the siege; “the third part smitten about it” (the city) “with” the sword, those who were killed about the city during the same period: “the third part scattered to the wind” those who after the siege were dispersed in foreign lands. In the midst of the city - The prophet is in exile, and is to do this in the midst of Jerusalem. His action being ideal is fitly assigned to the place which the prophecy concerns. When the days of the siege are fulfilled - i. e., “when the days of the figurative representation of the siege are fulfilled.” return to 'Top of Page'”

“A third part - Described on the tile, Eze 4:1, a type of what should be done in Jerusalem. The days - When the three hundred and ninety days of thy lying against the portrayed city shall be ended. With a knife - To signify them that fall by the sword. Scatter - To typify them that fell to the Chaldeans, or fled to Egypt, or other countries. Ezekiel 5:3”

“5:2 Ezekiel was to burn one third of the hair to represent those who would die of famine during the siege. He was to chop another third of the hair with a sword to represent those who would die violent deaths. He was to scatter the final third to the wind to represent those who would be sent into exile.”

“shalt burn: Eze 5:12; Jer 9:21, Jer 9:22, Jer 15:2, Jer 24:10, Jer 38:2 the city: Eze 4:1-8 I will draw: Eze 5:12, Eze 12:14; Lev 26:33; Jer 9:16; Amo 9:2, Amo 9:3 Ezekiel 5:3”