Eze 5:1-4 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Ezek 5:1-4: 5:1-4 The prophet was required to perform two further sign acts. First, he used a sharp sword ... as a razor to shave his head and beard , tangibly demonstrating the destruction described in ch 4 (cp. Isa 7:20 ). Shaving off a man’s hair implied the loss of his manhood and was a gesture of dishonor (see 2 Sam 10:4-5 ). Second, Ezekiel weighed the hair he had shaved off into three equal parts to show that God’s measured judgment would take three different forms.

cIsa 7:20►

d2 Sam 10:4-5►

‏ Ezekiel 5:1-4

Summary for Ezek 5:1-4: 5:1-4 ^a The prophet was required to perform two further sign acts. First, he used a sharp sword ... as a razor to shave his head and beard, tangibly demonstrating the destruction described in ch 4 ^b (cp. Isa 7:20 ^c). Shaving off a man’s hair implied the loss of his manhood and was a gesture of dishonor (see 2 Sam 10:4-5 ^d). Second, Ezekiel weighed the hair he had shaved off into three equal parts to show that God’s measured judgment would take three different forms.
5:2 ^e Ezekiel was to burn one third of the hair to represent those who would die of famine during the siege. He was to chop another third of the hair with a sword to represent those who would die violent deaths. He was to scatter the final third to the wind to represent those who would be sent into exile.
Summary for Ezek 5:3-4: 5:3-4 ^f Ezekiel was to tie just a bit of the hair in his robe to show that a remnant would be safe, but even some of them would die in the fire of exile. Few would survive the multiple catastrophes about to befall God’s people.