Ezekiel 9 describes a vision that the prophet Ezekiel receives from God. In this vision, Ezekiel sees six men with weapons standing beside the altar of the Lord, and another man dressed in linen with a writing kit at his side. The man in linen is instructed by God to go through Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of those who mourn and lament over the detestable practices of the city. These marked individuals are to be spared from the impending judgment that God will bring upon Jerusalem.
After the marking, the command is given to the other men to follow the man in linen and strike down anyone in the city who does not have the mark. They are to show no mercy or compassion, but to execute God’s judgment on the wickedness of Jerusalem. The city is filled with violence and abominations, and God’s patience has reached its limit.
The chapter concludes with Ezekiel pleading with God for mercy, questioning why He would destroy the entire city, including those who have remained faithful. God’s response is that the people of Jerusalem have filled the land with violence, provoking His wrath. He assures Ezekiel that the punishment is just and that the wicked will receive what they deserve.