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Then He cried also in mine oznayim with a kol gadol (loud voice), saying, Cause them that have charge over the Ir to draw near, even every ish with his keli mashcheh (destroying weapon) in his yad.

And, hinei, shishah anashim (six men) came from the derech of the Sha’ar HaElyon, which lieth toward the north, and every ish a keli mapatz (slaughter weapon) of his in his yad; and one ish among them was clothed with linen, with a keset hasofer (writing case) at his side; and they went in, and stood beside the Mizbe’ach HaNechoshet.

And the Kavod Elohei Yisroel was gone up from the Keruv (Cherub), whereupon it was, to the miftan HaBeis [HaMikdash] (the Threshold of the Beis HaMikdash). And He called to the ish clothed with linen, which had the keset hasofer at his side;

And Hashem said unto him, Go through the midst of the Ir, through the midst of Yerushalayim, and put a TAV upon the mitzekhot (foreheads) of the anashim that grieve and lament for kol hato’evot that are being done in the midst thereof.

And to the others He said in mine hearing, Go ye through the Ir after him [i.e., the man with the scribal kit], and strike down; let not your eye have pity, and do not spare;

Slay utterly zaken (old man) and bochur (young man), betulah, little children, and nashim; but come not near any ish upon whom is the TAV; and begin at My Mikdash. Then they began with the anashim hazekenim which were before the Beis [HaMikdash][1K 4:17].

And He said unto them, Make the Beis [HaMikdash] tameh, and fill the khatzerot (coutyards) with chalalim (slain ones); go ye forth. And they went forth, and slaughtered in the Ir.

And it came to pass, while they were slaying them, and I was left, that I fell upon my face, and cried out, and said, Ah, Adonoi Hashem! Wilt Thou destroy kol She’erit Yisroel in Thy pouring out of Thy chemah (wrath, fury) upon Yerushalayim?

Then He said unto me, The avon Bais Yisroel and Yehudah is exceeding great, and HaAretz is full of damim, and the Ir full of injustice; for they say, Hashem hath forsaken Ha’Aretz, and Hashem seeth not.

10 And as for Me, Mine eye shall show no pity, neither will I spare, but I will recompense their derech upon their rosh.

11 And, hinei, the ish clothed with linen, which had the keset ([writing] case) at his side, reported, saying, I have done as Thou hast commanded me.

Judgment on the Idolaters

Then I heard him call out in a loud voice, “Bring near those who are appointed to execute judgment on the city, each with a weapon in his hand.” And I saw six men coming from the direction of the upper gate, which faces north, each with a deadly weapon in his hand. With them was a man clothed in linen(A) who had a writing kit at his side. They came in and stood beside the bronze altar.

Now the glory(B) of the God of Israel went up from above the cherubim,(C) where it had been, and moved to the threshold of the temple. Then the Lord called to the man clothed in linen who had the writing kit at his side and said to him, “Go throughout the city of Jerusalem(D) and put a mark(E) on the foreheads of those who grieve and lament(F) over all the detestable things that are done in it.(G)

As I listened, he said to the others, “Follow him through the city and kill, without showing pity(H) or compassion.(I) Slaughter(J) the old men, the young men and women, the mothers and children,(K) but do not touch anyone who has the mark.(L) Begin at my sanctuary.” So they began with the old men(M) who were in front of the temple.(N)

Then he said to them, “Defile the temple and fill the courts with the slain.(O) Go!” So they went out and began killing throughout the city. While they were killing and I was left alone, I fell facedown,(P) crying out, “Alas, Sovereign Lord!(Q) Are you going to destroy the entire remnant of Israel in this outpouring of your wrath(R) on Jerusalem?(S)

He answered me, “The sin of the people of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great; the land is full of bloodshed and the city is full of injustice.(T) They say, ‘The Lord has forsaken the land; the Lord does not see.’(U) 10 So I will not look on them with pity(V) or spare them, but I will bring down on their own heads what they have done.(W)

11 Then the man in linen with the writing kit at his side brought back word, saying, “I have done as you commanded.”