211 And the word of the Lord came to me saying , 2 "Son of man , set your face toward Jerusalem , and speak against the sanctuaries and prophesy against the land of Israel ; 3 and say to the land of Israel , 'Thus says the Lord , "Behold , I am against you; and I will draw My sword out of its sheath and cut off from you the righteous and the wicked . 4 "Because I will cut off from you the righteous and the wicked , therefore My sword will go forth from its sheath against all flesh from south to north . 5 "Thus all flesh will know that I, the Lord , have drawn My sword out of its sheath . It will not return to its sheath again ."' 6 "As for you, son of man , groan with breaking heart and bitter grief , groan in their sight . 7 "And when they say to you, 'Why e do you groan ?' you shall say , 'Because of the news that is coming ; and every heart will melt , all hands will be feeble , every spirit will faint and all knees will be weak as water . Behold , it comes and it will happen ,' declares the Lord GOD ."
8 Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying , 9 "Son of man , prophesy and say , 'Thus says the Lord .' Say , ' A sword , a sword sharpened And also polished ! 10 'Sharpened to make a slaughter , Polished to flash like lightning !' Or shall we rejoice , the rod of My son despising every tree ? 11 "It is given to be polished , that it may be handled ; the sword is sharpened and polished , to give it into the hand of the slayer . 12 " Cry out and wail , son of man ; for it is against My people , it is against all the officials of Israel . They are delivered over to the sword with My people , therefore strike your thigh . 13 "For there is a testing ; and what if even the rod which despises will be no more?" declares the Lord GOD . 14 "You therefore, son of man , prophesy and clap your hands together e ; and let the sword be doubled the third time , the sword for the slain . It is the sword for the great one slain , which surrounds them, 15 that their hearts may melt , and many fall at all their gates . I have given the glittering sword . Ah ! It is made for striking like lightning , it is wrapped up in readiness for slaughter . 16 "Show yourself sharp , go to the right ; set yourself; go to the left , wherever your edge is appointed . 17 "I will also clap My hands together e , and I will appease My wrath ; I, the Lord , have spoken ."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Ezekiel 21:1-17
Commentary on Ezekiel 21:1-17
(Read Ezekiel 21:1-17)
Here is an explanation of the parable in the last chapter. It is declared that the Lord was about to cut off Jerusalem and the whole land, that all might know it was his decree against a wicked and rebellious people. It behoves those who denounce the awful wrath of God against sinners, to show that they do not desire the woful day. The example of Christ teaches us to lament over those whose ruin we declare. Whatever instruments God uses in executing his judgments, he will strengthen them according to the service they are employed in. The sword glitters to the terror of those against whom it is drawn. It is a sword to others, a rod to the people of the Lord. God is in earnest in pronouncing this sentence, and the prophet must show himself in earnest in publishing it.