John Gill Commentary Ezekiel 9:5

"And to the others he said in my hearing, Go ye through the city after him, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity;" — Ezekiel 9:5 (ASV)

And, to the others he said in mine hearing To the other six men that had the slaughter weapons in their hands:

go ye after him through the city; that is, after the man clothed with linen; for he was sent out first to take care of the righteous, and preserve them; and the rest were not suffered to stir till he was gone; and then they are bid to go after him. The Syriac version is: ``to them that were with him he said to them before me, go through the city after me;'' as if these were the words of the man clothed with linen to the other six; and so the Arabic version; of it the other is the true reading, and gives the right sense, as the following words show:

and smite; the inhabitants of the city:

let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity; not that the Chaldeans were inclined to mercy and pity, for they were a cruel and barbarous people; but this is said to show the resentment of God against the sins of the Jews; and that it was his will they should act the severe part they did.