Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezekiel 7:18
They shall also gird [themselves] with sackcloth, and horror shall cover them; and shame [shall be] upon all faces, and baldness upon all their heads.
18. horror shall cover them ] Or, trembling, terror, Job 21:6. It shall take such hold of them that it shall be all over them, like a garment covering them. Cf. Isa 59:17, he was clad with zeal as a cloke; Psa 55:6.
baldness ] A sign of mourning: Isa 15:2, On all heads shall be baldness; Mic: Mic 1:16, Enlarge thy baldness like the vulture. This tonsure in token of mourning, common among many nations of antiquity, was confined among the Hebrews to shaving the front part of the head (Deu 14:1), and was forbidden by the Law in the case of priests (Lev 21:5, cf. Eze 44:20), and of the whole people (Deu 14:1), cf. Amo 8:10; Jer 16:6; Lev 19:27.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Various signs of mourning common in eastern countries. Baldness was forbidden to the Israelites Deu 14:1. They seem, however, in later times to have adopted the custom of foreign nations in this matter, not without permission. Compare Isa 22:12.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
It is a very general usage in the Eastern parts in deepest sorrows and distresses to put sackcloth on, and to gird it close to their bodies.
Horror; either dreadful apprehensions of growing evils, or continued shakings from impressions of what formerly they felt, according to Lev 26:16,36.
Cover them; be on every side, no side safety, or quiet, and confidence. Shame of disappointment, which breeds consternation; and shame of conscious guilt and unbecoming deportment, which fills the countenance as much with blushing as it fills the conscience with guilt and sin.
Baldness; either by pulling off the hair amidst their sorrows, or cutting off their hair in token of greatest mourning, Isa 15:2; Jer 7:29; 48:37; Amo 8:10.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
18. cover themas a garment.
baldnessa sign ofmourning (Isa 3:24; Jer 48:37;Mic 1:16).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
They shall also gird [themselves] with sackcloth,…. As a token of mourning, Ge 37:34;
and horror shall cover them: either the horror of a guilty conscience, or the perpetual dread and terror of the enemy:
and shame [shall be] upon all faces; because of their sins and transgressions, which they shall now be convinced of; or because of their desolate condition, their sins had brought them into:
and baldness upon all their heads; through the plucking off of the hair of their heads in their distress; for to make baldness as a token of mourning for the dead was forbidden the Jews, De 14:1.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
He continues the same sentiment. He says, such was the slaughter of the people that they should all gird themselves with sackcloth. But it seems little in accordance with this, that those who should be astonished should gird themselves with sackcloth, so as not to bewail the dead. But the prophets so vary their discourse because they cannot otherwise affect obstinate minds. Although therefore these things do not seem at first sight to agree, that they should bind themselves in sackcloth, and upon all their heads should be baldness: then that all should perish without grief or sorrow: yet these things suit well enough, because the Prophet does not express what they should do, but what the event should be. Since, therefore, slaughter shall occur on every side, at length God shall consume some by pestilence, others by famine: therefore he adds, there should be material for grief, although in consequence of the multitude of evils they should be lifeless, and torpid, and omit all signs of sorrow. Therefore they shall gird themselves with sackcloth We know that this was a remarkable symbol of penitence, but it is often transferred to common sorrow, and even profane men clothe themselves in sackcloth, although they do not acknowledge God the author of evils. Hence when the Prophet says, all should take sackcloth in which to clothe themselves, he does not mean that they should feel punishments divinely inflicted that they should repent; but he only expresses the common ceremony of grief in distress which is also common to the wicked and to despisers of God, Now he adds, fear shall cover them, and disgrace, or shame, shall be on all faces: then upon all heads shall be baldness This was forbidden by the law, (Deu 14:1😉 since we know that God restrained too much intemperance in sorrow, when he forbids the people to fall upon their face, or to make themselves bald; for that was preposterous affectation. And we know that men are ambitious in grief. Hence that God may impose restraint upon sorrow, he forbids his people to cut the skin, or to produce baldness. Hence we see that the Prophet does not speak of the true sign of repentance, but only marks, as I have said, that God’s vengeance should be so horrible, that dread should cover them, and then that shame and confusion of face should come upon them: then, that they should cut the skin like the Gentiles, and put on sackcloth like men abandoned to destruction,
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
18. In funeral garb, covered with “trembling,” with shamed faces and dishonored heads (Eze 44:20; Isa 15:2; Deu 14:1; Amo 8:10), the rich men flee from the city and seek to escape the universal doom. (See notes Eze 27:30-31.)
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Eze 7:18 They shall also gird [themselves] with sackcloth, and horror shall cover them; and shame [shall be] upon all faces, and baldness upon all their heads.
Ver. 18. They shall also gird themselves with sackcloth. ] They shall be a miserable mourning people for a long while.
Horror shall cover them.
Shame shall be upon all faces.
And baldness upon all their heads.
a Scal.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
baldness. A sign of mourning.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
shall also: Isa 3:24, Isa 15:2, Isa 15:3, Jer 48:37, Amo 8:10
and horror: Gen 15:12, Job 21:6, Psa 35:26, Psa 55:4, Psa 55:5, Jer 3:25, Rev 6:15-17
Reciprocal: Lev 19:27 – General Ezr 9:3 – off Jer 47:5 – Baldness Jer 51:51 – shame Lam 2:10 – they have girded Eze 27:31 – they shall make Joe 1:13 – Gird Oba 1:10 – shame Mic 7:10 – shame
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Eze 7:18, This verse is another reminder of David’B prediction in Psalms 137.