Attributed commentary excerpt
John Gill's Exposition on Ezekiel 5:2
A historical reference excerpt for this verse. Read it alongside the biblical text and other available sources.
Exposition of the Old and New Testament
John Gill (1697–1771) · 18th-century historical commentary
Source: BibleWord.ai's local reference edition of this named work.
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 after, and overtook by the Chaldean army, and cut off by the sword, (<245207>Jeremiah 52:7,8); and a third part thou shall scatter in the wind; which intends those that fled, and were dispersed into several countries, as Moab, Ammon, and especially Egypt, whither many went along with Johanan the son of Kareah, (<244305>Jeremiah 43:5-7); and I will draw out a sword after them; and destroy them; which, as it was threatened, (<244216>Jeremiah 42:16 44:27); so it was accomplished when Egypt was subdued by Nebuchadnezzar. The Septuagint and Arabic versions, in every clause, read a “fourth part”, instead of a “third”; but wrongly.
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