51 "As for you, son of man , take a sharp sword ; take and use it as a barber's razor on your head and beard . Then take scales for weighing and divide the hair. 2 "One third you shall burn in the fire at the center of the city , when the days of the siege are completed . Then you shall take one third and strike it with the sword all around the city, and one third you shall scatter to the wind ; and I will unsheathe a sword behind them. 3 "Take also a few in number from them and bind them in the edges of your robes. 4 "Take again some of them and throw them into the fire and burn them in the fire ; from it a fire will spread to all the house of Israel .
5 "Thus says the Lord GOD , 'This is Jerusalem ; I have set her at the center of the nations , with lands around her.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Ezekiel 5:1-5
Commentary on Ezekiel 5:1-4
(Read Ezekiel 5:1-4)
The prophet must shave off the hair of his head and beard, which signifies God's utter rejecting and abandoning that people. One part must be burned in the midst of the city, denoting the multitudes that should perish by famine and pestilence. Another part was to be cut in pieces, representing the many who were slain by the sword. Another part was to be scattered in the wind, denoting the carrying away of some into the land of the conqueror, and the flight of others into the neighbouring countries for shelter. A small quantity of the third portion was to be bound in his shirts, as that of which he is very careful. But few were reserved. To whatever refuge sinners flee, the fire and sword of God's wrath will consume them.
Commentary on Ezekiel 5:5-17
(Read Ezekiel 5:5-17)
The sentence passed upon Jerusalem is very dreadful, the manner of expression makes it still more so. Who is able to stand in God's sight when he is angry? Those who live and die impenitent, will perish for ever unpitied; there is a day coming when the Lord will not spare. Let not persons or churches, who change the Lord's statutes, expect to escape the doom of Jerusalem. Let us endeavour to adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. Sooner or later God's word will prove itself true.