John Gill Commentary Ezekiel 9:6

"slay utterly the old man, the young man and the virgin, and little children and women; but come not near any man upon whom is the mark: and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the old men that were before the house." — Ezekiel 9:6 (ASV)

Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children ,
and women
All, of them objects of compassion, because of their age and sex; and yet none to be spared; and these orders were exactly obeyed; see (2 Chronicles 36:17) ;

but come not near any man on whom is the mark ;
these were not to be slain; and though some were carried captive, as Daniel, and others; yet it was for their good and God's glory; see (Revelation 7:3Revelation 7:4) (Revelation 9:3Revelation 9:4) ;

and begin at my sanctuary ;
the temple, the house of God, and the priests and Levites that dwelt there. The Septuagint version is, "begin at my saints"; those who professed themselves to be the saints of the Lord, and were separated and devoted to his service; and so the Rabbins say ^F25 , do not read (yvdqmm) , "at my sanctuary"; but (yvdwqmm) , "at those that sanctify me", or "my sanctified ones"; which they interpret of those that keep the whole law, from "aleph" to "tau"; see (1 Peter 4:17) ;

then they began at the ancient men who were before the house ;
the seventy elders of Israel, who offered incense to the idols portrayed upon the walls of the chambers of the temple, (Ezekiel 8:10Ezekiel 8:11) ; these they slew first.

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FOOTNOTES:

• F25: T. Bab. Avoda Zara, fol. 4. 1.