Ezekiel

Then [God] called loudly in my hearing, saying, “Approach, you who are in charge of the city, each bearing his weapons of destruction!”

And six figures entered by way of the upper gate that faces north, each with his club in his hand; and among them was another one, clothed in linen, with a writing case at his waist. They came forward and stopped at the bronze altar.

Now the Presence of the God of Israel had moved from the cherub on which it had rested to the platformathe platform The raised platform on which the temple stood; cf. 47.1. of the House. The figure clothed in linen with the writing case at his waist was summoned;

and GOD said to him, “Pass through the city, through Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the persons who moan and groan because of all the abominations that are committed in it.”

The others were told in my hearing, “Follow him through the city and strike; show no pity or compassion.

Kill off graybeard, youth and maiden, women and children; but do not touch any person who bears the mark. Begin here at My Sanctuary.” So they began with the elders who were in front of the House.

And [God] said to them, “Defile the House and fill the courts with the slain. Then go forth.” So they went forth and began to kill in the city.

When they were out killing, and I remained alone, I flung myself on my face and cried out, “Ah, my Sovereign GOD! Are you going to annihilate all that is left of Israel, pouring out Your fury upon Jerusalem?”

The answer came, “The iniquity of the Houses of Judah and Israel is very very great, the land is full of crime and the city is full of corruption. For they say, ‘GOD has forsaken the land, and GOD does not see.’

I, in turn, will show no pity or compassion; I will give them their deserts.”

And then the one clothed in linen with the writing case at his waist brought back word, saying, “I have done as You commanded me.”