(9) The Lord that smiteth.--In Ezekiel 7:4 it is only said, "Ye shall know that I am the LORD," without saying in what respect; here this is specified--they shall know that God is a God of judgment, and that these calamities are from Him.

7:1-15 The abruptness of this prophecy, and the many repetitions, show that the prophet was deeply affected by the prospect of these calamities. Such will the destruction of sinners be; for none can avoid it. Oh that the wickedness of the wicked might end before it bring them to an end! Trouble is to the impenitent only an evil, it hardens their hearts, and stirs up their corruptions; but there are those to whom it is sanctified by the grace of God, and made a means of much good. The day of real trouble is near, not a mere echo or rumour of troubles. Whatever are the fruits of God's judgments, our sin is the root of them. These judgments shall be universal. And God will be glorified in all. Now is the day of the Lord's patience and mercy, but the time of the sinner's trouble is at hand.And mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity,.... This verse is the same with Ezekiel 7:4; only instead of "I will recompense thy ways upon thee", here it is,

I will recompense thee according to thy ways upon thee and thine abominations that are in the midst of thee; which have both the same sense, showing the equity and justice of the divine proceedings: and to the clause, it is added,

and ye shall know that I am the Lord that smiteth; with the rod of his anger, inflicts punishment for sin. The Syriac version is, "that smiteth them"; the Jews, by suffering them to be carried captive: and so the Targum,

"I am the Lord that bringeth upon you a smiting,''

or the blow; the sense is, that when it came, they should be sensible that it was the Lord's doing. See Gill on Ezekiel 7:4.