The Slaughter of the Guilty

91 Then He cried out in my hearing with a loud voice saying , "Draw near , O executioners of the city , each with his destroying weapon in his hand ." 2 Behold , six men came from the direction of the upper gate which faces north , each with his shattering weapon in his hand ; and among them was a certain man clothed in linen with a writing case at his loins . And they went in and stood beside the bronze altar . 3 Then the glory of the God of Israel went up from the cherub on which it had been , to the threshold of the temple . And He called to the man clothed in linen at whose loins was the writing case . 4 The Lord said to him, "Go through the midst of the city , even through the midst of Jerusalem , and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations which are being committed in its midst ."

5 But to the others He said in my hearing , "Go through the city after him and strike ; do not let your eye have pity and do not spare . 6 "Utterly slay old men , young men , maidens , little children , and women , but do not touch any man on whom is the mark ; and you shall start from My sanctuary ." So they started with the elders who were before the temple . 7 And He said to them, " Defile the temple and fill the courts with the slain . Go out!" Thus they went out and struck down the people in the city . 8 As they were striking the people and I alone was left , I fell on my face and cried out saying , " Alas , Lord GOD ! Are You destroying the whole remnant of Israel by pouring out Your wrath on Jerusalem ?" 9 Then He said to me, "The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is very , very great , and the land is filled with blood and the city is full of perversion ; for they say , 'The Lord has forsaken the land , and the Lord does not see !' 10 "But as for Me, My eye will have no pity nor will I spare , but I will bring their conduct upon their heads ." 11 Then behold , the man clothed in linen at whose loins was the writing case reported e , saying , "I have done just as You have commanded me."