Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezekiel 21:15

I have set the point of the sword against all their gates, that [their] heart may faint, and [their] ruins be multiplied: ah! [it is] made bright, [it is] wrapped up for the slaughter.

15. the point of the sword ] Or, the glitter, lit. whirl or swing. Others by changing a letter would read “slaughter,” which Frd. Del. (Baer, Ezek.) by comparison of Assyr. considers the word to mean as it stands.

ruins be multiplied ] Or, stumbling-blocks, Jer 6:21. Or, by a slight change in pointing: those overthrown may be multiplied; Jer 18:23; cf. Jer 46:16.

wrapt up ] sharpened, as marg.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Verse 15. Wrapped up] It is not a blunt sword, it is carefully sharpened and preserved for the slaughter.

Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible

The Lord hath gathered them together round about Jerusalem, with their swords sharpened and drawn at every gate to slay whosoever attempt to come out, or to slay all they meet with when they take the city.

All their gates; both of meaner cities, of their palaces, and private houses.

That their heart may faint; as what heart can be thought able to retain its courage, when beset with death by an enemys sword, which killeth all that come out, and entereth to kill all that stay within?

Multiplied; for number made many, for nature made very great.

Made bright; prepared, brightened, and sharpened.

Wrapped up; and hath been carefully kept in the scabbard, that it might keep its edge, and not be blunted.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

15. point“the whirlingglance of the sword” [FAIRBAIRN].”The naked (bared) sword” [HENDERSON].

ruinsliterally,”stumbling-blocks.” Their own houses and walls shall bestumbling-blocks in their way, whether they wish to fight or flee.

made brightmade toglitter.

wrapped, &c.namely,in the hand of him who holds the hilt, or in its scabbard, that theedge may not be blunt when it is presently drawn forth to strike.GESENIUS, translates,”sharpened,” &c.

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

I have set the point of the sword against all their gates,…. The word rendered “point” is nowhere else used, and is differently translated: by some the “fear” of the sword z, as Menachem and Kimchi; by others the “cry” of the sword, or of those that are slain with it, as Jarchi; and the Targum paraphrases it,

“those that slay with the sword:”

some, as both Jarchi and Kimchi, observe, by an inversion of the letters of the alphabet, called “athbash”, render it, the “slaughter” of the sword; and De Dieu and Dr. Castel, from the use of the word in the Ethiopic language, the “destruction” of it, or, the power of it. The meaning is, that the enemy, with their swords drawn, should be placed at every gate of the city of Jerusalem, or of their houses, pointed towards them; which would be very terrible, and sore destruction to them.

That their hearts may faint; seeing nothing but death before their eyes, and no way to escape it:

and their ruins be multiplied; of their families, and of their houses.

Ah! it is made bright; to terrify the more, as in Eze 21:10, appearing as a flaming sword, and so causing fear; the prophet expresses his sorrow and concern for it. The Targum is,

“woe! the sword is drawn out to kill.”

It is wrapped up for slaughter; in its sheath or scabbard, that it might not rust or be blunted, it being furbished and brightened; but this seems contrary to its being drawn out of its sheath, as in

Eze 21:3. Kimchi renders it, therefore, “sharpened”, as in

Eze 21:10 and so the Targum,

“it is sharpened to destroy;”

the more easily and speedily.

z “terrorem gladii”, Munster, Pagninus, Montanus.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

(15) The point.The Hebrew word occurs only here. The marginal rendering comes nearer its sense, but the exact meaning is the glance or the whirl of the sword. The glancing or the whirling motion of the sword was to be everywhere, against all their gates.

Their ruins be multiplied.Literally, their stumbling blocks be multiplied. The thought is that in the coming desolation trouble shall be on every side and, in their perplexity, occasions for ill-advised action shall arise all around. Bright means glittering. (Comp. Deu. 32:41; Job. 20:25; Nah. 3:3.)

It is wrapped.The margin has sharpened, but the exact sense is drawn, drawn out for the slaughter.

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

15. Point The word has been supposed to mean “threatening,” “terror,” “shouting,” “waving.”

Glitter It literally means whirl. “Almost exactly the same word in Assyrian means slaughter.” W.A.I., 2:23, 9.

Their ruins be multiplied Rather, there be many to stumble over (Jer 6:21), or, by a slight change, those overthrown may be multiplied.

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments