John Gill Commentary Ezekiel 21:12

"Cry and wail, son of man; for it is upon my people, it is upon all the princes of Israel: they are delivered over to the sword with my people; smite therefore upon thy thigh." — Ezekiel 21:12 (ASV)

Cry, howl, son of man Not only sigh, but cry; and not cry only, but howl; signifying hereby that this would be the case of the Jews when these calamities should come upon them; and, in order to affect them with them beforehand, the prophet is ordered to act such a part, as well as to express his sympathy with them:

for it shall be upon my people ; that is, the sword, or the calamity signified by it; this should be not upon other nations, but upon the Lord's own people; such who professed themselves to be his people, and whom he had distinguished from all others; this is said, to affect the prophet the more, they being both the Lord's people, and his also:

and it shall be upon all the princes of Israel ; who were slain in Riblah by the king of Babylon, (Jeremiah 52:10) , the sword spared neither people nor princes.

Terrors, by reason of the sword, shall be upon my people ; upon the rumour of the invasion, and when besieged in the city, and when attempting to make their escape by flight: or "my people are fallen by the sword" ^F21 , as some:

smite therefore upon your thigh ; as one grieved in spirit, in great distress and anguish; see (Jeremiah 31:19) .

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FOOTNOTES:

• F21: So R. Sol Urbin. Ohel Moed, fol. 59. 1.