Matthew Poole and continuators on Ezekiel 5:1

1 AND thou Son of man, take thee a sharp knife, take thee a barbors rasor, and cause it to pass upon thy head, and upon thy beard, then take thee balances to weigh and divide the hair.

It is not unlikely that this command was given to the Prophet, so soon as he had understood the former chapters vision.

Vid. chap. 2.1.

Procure it by any means.

A Sword or Knife very sharp, as Heb. so the grievous judgment is exprest, chap. 21.9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16. and here the speedy, irresistible, and sweeping judgment against this people is ap[illegible: 1 letter]ly set forth.

This in different words is the same thing, and explains the former, and makes the Emblem more exact, for by hair shaved and destroyed is the destruction of Ierusalem, and its people represented to us. Now that this may appear in the certainty of it, both a Sword for strength, and sharp for cutting, nay, a Rasor much sharper, that shaves close, leaves nothing behind it and cannot be resisted by the weak hair, so shall it be here with this people.

A Hebraism, shave close with it.

The Chief as King, and Rulers, the City.

The common Citizens. Or, The Towns round about.

Just and exact scales, an emblem of Divine Justice and Equity.

The Prophets weighing represents God weighing these men and their ways.

These light vain and worthless ones, inhabitants of this sinful City, 2 Sam. 10.4, 5. Ier. 41.5. and 48.37. Thus foretell them their mourning, reproach, and deformity that is coming, for all this is signified by this shaving head and beard.

Marginal references: Isa. 7.20.