Ezekiel 9:2

2. Six men… every man a slaughter weapon in his hand These were symbolic of the divine executioners. In what form they appeared, other than that they looked like men, is not stated. Did they to the prophet’s eyes appear as the temple butchers, or as angels (Ezekiel 40:3; Ezekiel 43:6), or as Assyrians? The latter actually were the future destroyers of Jerusalem. In any case they were symbolic representatives of supernaturally directed powers. As six was the usual symbol of the world and its satanic acts, and as a marked distinction is made between these and the seventh, it may be that these represented worldly heathen forces overruled and controlled by the heavenly.

From the way of the… gate Which was the higher or upper gate is not made certain in the context. One thing is positive, however, that the agents of punishment came out of one of the northern gates; either entering the temple through the north gate of the outer court or coming out of the holy place from the northern gate of the sanctuary, thus passing through the very doors which had so recently opened for the abominable idol worshipers (chap. 8). The fact that in Ezekiel’s temple the innermost gate was the highest (Jeremiah 36:10), together with the appropriateness of God’s agents of justice coming from his own holy place, makes it most probable that these ministers of Jehovah first appeared coming from the temple sanctuary.

One… clothed with linen This man completes the sacred symbolic number of perfection. God’s ministers of justice are seven. No more are needed. This number suggests also the fact that these agents are engaged in holy work. To punish is as divine as to forgive. This seventh man is the divine scribe, who knows the names of all God’s people (Ezekiel 9:4). He is the priestly mediator between God’s justice and human sin. He is the divine executive and evidently chief of the seven (Ezekiel 9:3). Orelli and many others do not hesitate to see in him the “Angel of the Covenant” (Zechariah 1:11; Joshua 5:14; Genesis 17:1). White linen garments are always the symbol of purity. (Compare Daniel 10:5; Daniel 12:6; Leviticus 16:4; Revelation 15:6.)

Stood beside the brazen altar This was in the inner court. (Compare Ezekiel 43:13-17.) Coming from the holy of holies, these mysterious messengers of Jehovah pause at the altar for further commands.