1He cried also in mine ears with a loud voice, saying, "Cause them that have charge over the city to draw near, even every man with his destroying weapon in his hand."
2And behold, six men came from the way of the higher gate, which lieth toward the north, and every man a slaughter weapon in his hand; and one man among them was clothed with linen, with a writer's inkhorn by his side. And they went in and stood beside the brazen altar.
3And the glory of the God of Israel had gone up from the cherub, whereupon he was, to the threshold of the house. And He called to the man clothed with linen, who had the writer's inkhorn by his side;
4and the LORD said unto him, "Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men who sigh and who cry because of all the abominations that are done in the midst thereof."
5And to the others He said in mine hearing, "Go ye after him through the city and smite. Let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity.
6Slay utterly old and young, both maids and little children and women; but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at My sanctuary." Then they began with the elder men who were before the house.
7And He said unto them, "Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain. Go ye forth." And they went forth and slew in the city.
8And it came to pass, while they were slaying them and I was left, that I fell upon my face and cried, and said, "Ah Lord GOD! Wilt Thou destroy all the residue of Israel in Thy pouring out of Thy fury upon Jerusalem?"
9Then said He unto me, "The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceeding great, and the land is full of blood and the city full of perverseness; for they say, `The LORD hath forsaken the earth, and the LORD seeth not.'
10And as for Me also, Mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity, but I will recompense their ways upon their heads."
11And behold, the man clothed with linen, who had the inkhorn by his side, reported the matter, saying, "I have done as Thou hast commanded me."